2006 National Hurling League

2006 National Hurling League
League details
Dates 19 February – 30 April 2006
Teams 32
League champions
Winners Kilkenny (13th win)
Captain Jackie Tyrell
Manager Brian Cody
League runners-up
Runners-up Limerick
Captain T. J. Ryan
Manager Joe McKenna
Other division winners
Division 2 Dublin
Division 3 Armagh
Division 3 Shield Tyrone
2005
2007

The 2006 National Hurling League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Hurling League, was the 75th edition of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams. Kilkenny won the league, beating Limerick in the final.[1][2][3]

Structure

Division 1

There are 12 teams in Division 1, divided into 1A and 1B. Each team plays all the others in its group once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw.

  • The first-placed teams in 1A and 1B advance to the NHL semi-finals.
  • The second- and third-placed teams in 1A and 1B advance to the NHL quarter-finals.
  • The fifth- and sixth-placed teams in 1A and 1B go into the relegation semi-finals and final.

Division 2

There are 11 teams in Division 2, divided into 2A and 2B.

  • The first-placed teams in 2A and 2B advance to the Division 2 semi-finals.
  • The second- and third-placed teams in 2A and 2B advance to the NHL quarter-finals.
  • The Division 2 champions are promoted.
  • The bottom two teams in 2A and 2B go into the relegation semi-finals and final.

Division 3

There are 9 teams in Division 3, divided into 3A and 3B.

  • The top two teams in 3A and 3B advance to the Division 3 semi-finals.
  • The Division 3 champions are promoted.
  • The other teams in 3A and 3B go into the Division 3 Shield.

Overview

Division 1

Brian Cody won his fourth league title with Kilkenny, and the second in succession, as 'the Cats' remained the only undefeated team throughout the entire league. Limerick, who were league runners-up, also enjoyed an unbeaten run in the group stage courtesy of three wins and two drawn games with Kilkenny and Tipperary, however, they fell to Kilkenny in the final.

Down at the other end of the table, the four bottom-placed teams and relegation candidates were Antrim, Down, Laois and Wexford. Laois, after losing all of their group stage games, eventually lost a play-off to Down and faced relegation for the following season.

Division 2

Dublin won the Division 2 title after an unbeaten run throughout the group and knock-out stages, thus returning to the top flight having been relegated the previous year. Runners-up Kerry also remained undefeated until the last day of the league when they were defeated in the final by 'the Dubs'. Going down were Roscommon who recorded only one victory in the group stage before losing to London and Wicklow in the relegation play-offs.

Division 3

Armagh and Longford qualified for the league final in this division with Armagh winning promotion.

Division 1

National Hurling League Division 1
Season 2006
Champions Kilkenny
13th National League title
Captain: Jackie Tyrrell
Manager: Brian Cody
Relegated Laois
Matches played 38
Top goalscorer Mark Keane (4-50)
Biggest home win Clare 5-21 - 0-9 Down
(19 February 2006)
Biggest away win Waterford 6-12 - 0-8 Down
(6 March 2006)
2005
2007
All statistics correct as of 26 April 2017.

Kilkenny came into the season as defending champions of the 2004 season. Offaly entered Division 1 as the promoted team.

On 30 April 2006, Kilkenny won the title following a 3-11 to 0-14 win over Limerick in the final.[4] It was their second league title in succession and their 13th National League title overall.

Laois, who lost all of their group stage matches, were relegated from Division 1 after losing both their matches in the relegation play-offs. Dublin won Division 2 and secured promotion to the top tier.

Limerick's Mark Keane was the Division 1 top scorer with 4-50.

Division 1A table

Pos Team Pld W D L Diff Pts Notes
1 Clare 5401+338
2 Offaly 5311+57
3 Waterford 5302+166
4 Cork 5212+315
5 Wexford 5203-34
6 Down 5005-820

Group stage

Division 1B table

Pos Team Pld W D L Diff Pts Notes
1 Kilkenny 5410+339 Division 1 champions
2 Limerick 5320+248 Division 1 runners-up
3 Tipperary 5212+44
4 Galway 5203+104
5 Antrim 5203-164
6 Laois 5005-550 Relegated to Division 2

Group stage

Relegation play-offs

Semi-finals

Final

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Scoring statistics

Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average
1 Mark Keane Limerick 4-50 62 7 8.85
2 Brian Carroll Offaly 3-47 56 6 9.33
3 Johnny McIntosh Antrim 3-32 41 6 6.83
4 Paul Flynn Waterford 2-32 38 6 6.33
5 Ger Farragher Galway 2-31 37 5 5.40
6 James Young Laois 0-34 34 5 6.80
7 Paul Braniff Down 2-27 33 6 5.50
8 Rory Jacob Wexford 1-28 31 6 5.16
9 Richie Power Kilkenny 0-26 26
10 Joe Deane Cork 2-19 25 3 8.33
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition
1 Mark Keane Limerick 2-10 16 Clare
2 Johnny McIntosh Antrim 1-11 14 Down
3 Brian Carroll Offaly 0-13 13 Cork
Richie Power Kilkenny 0-13 13 Laois
4 Eoin Kelly Tipperary 2-06 12 Kilkenny
Henry Shefflin Kilkenny 2-06 12 Limerick
Brian Carroll Offaly 1-09 12 Wexford
Mark Keane Limerick 1-09 12 Antrim
5 Brian Carroll Offaly 2-05 11 Tipperary
Rory Jacob Wexford 1-08 11 Clare
Brian Carroll Offaly 0-11 11 Down

Division 2

National Hurling League Division 2
Season 2006
Champions Dublin
Captain: Philip Brennan
Manager: Tommy Naughton
Relegated Roscommon
Matches played 34
2005
2007
All statistics correct as of 2 March 2018.

On 30 April 2006, Dublin won the title following a 0-17 to 1-6 win over Kerry in the final.[5] It was their first Division 2 title since 1997.

Roscommon, who lost all but one of their group stage matches, were relegated from Division 2 after losing both their matches in the relegation play-offs.

Division 2A table

Pos Team Pld W D L Diff Pts Notes
1 Dublin 5500+6110 Division 2 champions
2 Meath 5401+188
3 Derry 5203+124
4 Carlow 5203+24
5 Roscommon 5104-422
6 Wicklow 5104-512

Group stage

Division 2B table

Pos Team Pld W D L Diff Pts Notes
1 Kerry 4310+137 Division 2 runners-up
2 Westmeath 4310+127
3 Mayo 410302
4 Kildare 4103-102
5 London 4103-152

Group stage

Relegation play-offs

Semi-finals

Final

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Division 3

National Hurling League Division 3
Season 2006
Champions Armagh
Captain: Eddie Fearon
Manager: Mattie Lennon
Matches played 25
2005
2007
All statistics correct as of 2 March 2018.

On 30 April 2006, Armagh won the title following a 3-10 to 1-11 win over Longford in the final.[6] It was their first Division 3 title since 1999.

Division 3A table

Pos Team Pld W D L Diff Pts Notes
1 Donegal 4301+196
2 Louth 4211+135
3 Monaghan 4202-64
4 Sligo 4202-104
5 Leitrim 4013-161

Division 3B table

Pos Team Pld W D L Diff Pts Notes
1 Armagh 4400+508 Division 3 champions
2 Longford 4301+226 Division 3 runners-up
3 Fermanagh 4202-104
4 Tyrone 4103+32
5 Cavan 4004-650

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Shield

On 30 April 2006, Tyrone won the title following a 3-09 to 0-10 win over Sligo in the final.[7]

Semi-finals

Final

References

  1. "National Hurling League Results 1925-2009". Hogan Stand. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  2. 2002 Hurling League fixtures
  3. "Cats claim fourth NHL win". Irish Examiner. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  4. "Wan display enough to secure promotion for Dublin". Breaking News. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  5. "Armagh secure title with victory over Longford". Irish Examiner. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  6. "Goals prove the difference for Tyrone". Breaking News. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
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