1988–89 National Hurling League

1988–89 National Hurling League
League details
Dates	30 October 1988 – 30 April 1989
League champions
Winners	Galway (5th win)
Captain	Conor Hayes
Manager	Cyril Farrell
League runners-up
Runners-up	Tipperary
Captain	Pat McGrath
Manager	Michael "Babs" Keating
← 1987–88 1989–90 →

The 1988–89 National Hurling League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Royal Liver National Hurling League, was the 58th season of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams.^[1]^[2] It was won by Galway. This season was notable as the first to hold both semi-finals and the final at Croke Park, giving the League additional prestige.^[3]

Division 1

Football league season

National Hurling League Division 1
Season	1988-89
Champions	Galway 5th National League title Captain: Conor Hayes Manager: Cyril Farrell
Relegated	Offaly Waterford
Matches played	35
Top goalscorer	Adrian Ronan (2-47)
← 1987-88 1989-90 →

Tipperary came into the season as defending champions of the 1987-88 season. Antrim and Offaly entered Division 1 as the two promoted teams.

On 30 April 1989, Galway won the title after a 2-16 to 4-8 win over Tipperary. It was their first league title since 1987 and their fifth National League title overall.^[4]

Waterford were the first team to be relegated after losing all of but one of their group stage games, while Offaly suffered the same fate after losing a series of play-off games with Antrim and Wexford.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Galway (C)	7	7	0	0	14	National Hurling League champions
2	Tipperary	7	5	1	1	11	National Hurling League runners-up
3	Kilkenny	7	4	1	2	9
4	Limerick	7	4	0	3	8
5	Wexford	7	2	0	5	4
6	Antrim	7	2	0	5	4
7	Offaly (R)	7	2	0	5	4	Relegated to Division 2
8	Waterford (R)	7	1	0	6	0	Relegated to Division 2

Group stage

Offaly v Galway

30 October 1988	Offaly	0-11 - 2-12	Galway	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	M Corrigan 0-6, J Errity 0-2, J Dooley 0-1, P Corrigan 0-1, D Owens 0-1.		G Burke 2-3, J Cooney 0-3, M Naughton 0-3, M McGrath 0-2, R Dwane 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Antrim v Wexford

30 October 1988	Antrim	2-15 - 0-11	Wexford	Loughguile
	D McNaughton 1-7, M Sullivan 1-2, B Donnelly 0-2, C Barr 0-1, P McKillen 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1.		M Fitzhenry 0-3, B Byrne 0-2, M Storey 0-2, L McDonnell 0-2, D Prendergast 0-1, B O'Connor 0-1.	Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Waterford v Tipperary

30 October 1988	Waterford	0-11 - 1-12	Tipperary	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	K Delahunty 0-6,		P Fox 1-0, P McGrath 0-3, D Ryan 0-2, D Fogarty 0-1.

Limerick v Kilkenny

30 October 1988	Limerick	3-6 - 0-14	Kilkenny	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	G Kirby 2-6,

Kilkenny v Antrim

6 November 1988	Kilkenny	1-15 - 0-13	Antrim	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	A Ronan 0-5, L Fennelly 1-1, K Brennan 0-4, J Hennessy 0-4, C Heffernan 0-1.		D McNaughton 0-6, P McKillen 0-2, D Donnelly 0-2, O McFetridge 0-1, L McKeegan 0-1, C Barr 0-1.	Referee: G Long (Tipperary)

Galway v Waterford

6 November 1988	Galway	2-7 - 0-11	Waterford	Kenny Park, Athenry
	E Ryan 1-3, G Burke 1-0, M Connolly 0-3, M Kenny 0-1.		E Rockett 0-2, S Aherne 0-2, K Delahunty 0-2, P Murphy 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1, B Prendergast 0-1, G Connors 0-1, D Byrne 0-1.	Referee: M Quinn (Clare)

Tipperary v Offaly

6 November 1988	Tipperary	1-19 - 0-10	Offaly	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	D Fogarty 0-4, P McGrath 0-4, J Leahy 0-4, M CLeary 1-0, J Cormack 0-2, J Kennedy 0-1, D Carr 0-1, D Ryan 0-1, Cormac Bonnar 0-1, M McGrath 0-1.		M Corrigan 0-6, P Corrigan 0-2, D Fogarty 0-1, D Owens 0-1.	Referee: W Horgan (Cork)

Wexford v Limerick

6 November 1988	Wexford	1-7 - 3-12	Limerick	Wexford Park, Wexford
	M Storey 1-0, B O'Connor 0-2, R Coleman 0-1, J O'Connor 0-1, T Dunne 0-1, S Fitzhenry 0-1, M Fitzhenry 0-1.		S Fitzgibbon 3-0, G Kirby 0-5, B Flynn 0-2, M Reale 0-1, D Marron 0-1, J Carroll 0-1, D Punch 0-1, D Fitzgerald 0-1.	Referee: J Moore (Waterford)

Tipperary v Wexford

13 November 1988	Tipperary	2-20 - 1-4	Wexford	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	P McGrath 0-10, M CLeary 1-1, D Fogarty 0-4, A Ryan 1-0, N English 0-3, J Leahy 0-1, J Hayes 0-1.		M Fitzhenry 1-0, J O'Connor 0-2, S Fitzhenry 0-1, T Dunne 0-1.	Referee: JJ Landers (Waterford)

Offaly v Limerick

13 November 1988	Offaly	2-18 - 1-15	Limerick	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	P Corrigan 2-4, M Corrigan 0-7, D Owens 0-2, J Kelly 0-1, J Errity 0-1, D Pilkington 0-1, K Dooley 0-1.		S Fitzgibbon 1-2, B Finn 0-4, D Fitzgerald 0-3, L O'Connor 0-3, J Carroll 0-1, G Hegarty 0-1, M Nelligan 0-1.	Referee: J Denton (Wexford)

Waterford v Antrim

13 November 1988	Waterford	3-14 - 2-10	Antrim	Walsh Park, Waterford
	S Ahearne 1-3, E Rockett 1-1, K Delahunty 0-4, P Murphy 1-0, B O'Sullivan 0-3, D Byrne 0-1, B Prendergast 0-1, G Connors 0-1.		D McNaughton 1-4, D Donnelly 1-0, P McKillen 0-2, D Armstrong 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1, O McFetridge 0-1, C Barr 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Galway v Kilkenny

13 November 1988	Galway	2-14 - 1-11	Kilkenny	Pearse Stadium, Salthill
	J Cooney 2-1, E Ryan 0-3, M McGrath 0-3, M Naughton 0-3, T Keady 0-2, G Burke 0-2.		A Ronan 0-7, M Phelan 1-0, C Heffernan 0-2, K Brennan 0-1.	Referee: G Kirwan (Offaly)

Limerick v Tipperary

27 November 1988	Limerick	3-11 - 4-14	Tipperary	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	L Garvey 2-1, M Galligan 0-6, S Fitzgibbon 1-1, M Nelligan 0-2, D Fitzgerald 0-1.		P McGrath 1-7, C Bonnar 2-1, P Fox 1-0, J Leahy 0-2, D Ryan 0-2, D Fogarty 0-1, N English 0-1.

Wexford v Offaly

27 November 1988	Wexford	0-12 - 0-11	Offaly	St. Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy
	M Storey 0-4, T Dunne 0-2, M Fitzhenry 0-2, S Fitzhenry 0-2, T Walsh 0-1, M Morrissey 0-1.		M Corrigan 0-6, D Owens 0-1, J Errity 0-1, J Kelly 0-1, D Pilkington 0-1, P O'Connor 0-1.	Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)

Kilkenny v Waterford

27 November 1988	Kilkenny	2-15 - 0-9	Waterford	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	A Ronan 1-6, L Fennelly 1-1, R Power 0-2, C Heffernan 0-2, A Prendergast 0-2, G Fennelly 0-1, T McCluskey 0-1.		K Delahunty 0-6, K Ryan 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1, G Connors 0-1.	Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)

Antrim v Galway

27 November 1988	Antrim	2-9 - 3-12	Galway	Casement Park, Belfast
	C Barr 2-1, D McNaughton 0-3, O McFetridge 0-2, JP McKillop 0-1, P McKillen 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1.		G Burke 2-1, E Ryan 1-0, J Cooney 0-3, M McGrath 0-2, M Coleman 0-2, T Kilkenny 0-2, M Naughton 0-1, T Keady 0-1.	Referee: JF Bailey (Dublin)

Limerick v Galway

19 February 1989	Limerick	1-8 - 1-14	Galway	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
	L Garvey 1-0, G Kirby 0-3, M Galligan 0-3, B Finn 0-1, D Marron 0-1.		J Cooney 0-5, M McGrath 0-4, E Ryan 1-0, G Burke 0-3, T Kilkenny 0-2.	Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Wexford v Waterford

19 February 1989	Wexford	3-21 - 0-4	Waterford	Wexford Park, Wexford
	J Holohan 1-9, T Demspey 1-4, M Storey 1-1, S Fitzhenry 0-2, M Morrissey 0-2, M Fitzhenry 0-1, G O'Connor 0-1, J O'Connor 0-1.		K Delahunty 0-2, N Crowley 0-1, P Ryan 0-1.	Referee: W Horgan (Cork)

Tipperary v Antrim

19 February 1989	Tipperary	2-15 - 0-7	Antrim	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	P McGrath 0-7, J Leahy 1-1, Cormac Bonnar 1-0, P Fox 0-2, D Carr 0-2, N English 0-2, J Cormack 0-1.		O McFetridge 0-3, A McGarry 0-1, C Barr 0-1, G O'Kane 0-1, D Donnelly 0-1.	Referee: T Murray (Limerick)

Offaly v Kilkenny

19 February 1989	Offaly	1-8 - 0-13	Kilkenny	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	J Rigney 1-2, M Corrigan 0-4, D Pilkington 0-1, P Corrigan 0-1.		A Ronan 0-9, C Heffernan 0-3, L Ryan 0-1.	Referee: G Long (Tipperary)

Galway v Tipperary

5 March 1989	Galway	0-12 - 1-7	Tipperary	Duggan Park, Ballinasloe
	J Cooney 0-7, E Ryan 0-3, T Keady 0-1, P Malone 0-1.		S Nealon 1-4, J Cormack 0-2, D Carr 0-1.	Referee: P Long (Kilkenny)

Antrim v Limerick

5 March 1989	Antrim	1-12 - 0-17	Limerick	Casement Park, Belfast
	O McFetridge 0-8, B Donnelly 1-0, P McKillen 0-2, A McGarry 0-1, D Armstrong 0-1.		G Kirby 0-9, M Galligan 0-3, D Fitzgerald 0-2, L Garvey 0-2, B Finn 0-1.	Referee: W Horgan (Cork)

Kilkenny v Wexford

5 March 1989	Kilkenny	2-11 - 3-6	Wexford	Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
	A Ronan 0-7, L Ryan 1-2, T O'Keeffe 1-1, G Fennelly 0-1.		B Byrne 1-1, T Dunne 1-0, M Morrissey 1-0, J Holohan 0-2, J O'Connor 0-1, M Fitzhenry 0-1, S Fitzhenry 0-1.	Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Waterford v Offaly

5 March 1989	Waterford	0-10 - 1-16	Offaly	Fraher Field, Dungarvan
	K Delahunty 0-3, N Crowley 0-3, G O'Connor 0-2, P Ryan 0-1, K Ryan 0-1.		M Corrigan 0-5, P Cleary 1-1, V Teehan 0-4, P Delaney 0-1, M Duignan 0-1, J Rigney 0-1, R Byrne 0-1, P O'Connor 0-1, D Pilkington 0-1.	Referee: T Murray (Limerick)

Waterford v Limerick

12 March 1989	Waterford	1-8 - 1-11	Limerick	Walsh Park, Waterford
	S Ahearne 1-4, J Beresford 0-1, N Crowley 0-1, A Cooney 0-1, B Lawton 0-1.		G Kirby 0-6, S Fitzgibbon 1-0, G Hegarty 0-1, D Flynn 0-1, J O'Connor 0-1, M Galligan 0-1, M Nelligan 0-1.	Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)

Tipperary v Kilkenny

12 March 1989	Tipperary	1-11 - 2-8	Kilkenny	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	P McGrath 1-3, N English 0-3, J Hayes 0-2, D Carr 0-1, D Ryan 0-1, J Leahy 0-1.		L Ryan 1-1, A Ronan 0-4, L Fennelly 1-0, A Prendergast 0-1, T O'Keeffe 0-1, C Heffernan 0-1.	Referee: J Moore (Waterford)

Offaly v Antrim

12 March 1989	Offaly	0-10 - 1-9	Antrim	St. Brendan's Park, Birr
	M Corrigan 0-6, P Delaney 0-2, P Cleary 0-1, J Rigney 0-1.		O McFetridge 1-4, P McKillen 0-1, D McMullen 0-1, B Donnelly 0-1, A McGarry 0-1, D McNaughton 0-1.	Referee: T Murray (Limerick)

Galway v Wexford

12 March 1989	Galway	1-17 - 1-4	Wexford	Tuam Stadium, Tuam
	J Cooney 0-8, E Ryan 0-4, G Burke 1-0, A Staunton 0-2, P Higgins 0-2, M McGrath 0-1.		M Storey 1-2, M Morrissey 0-1, D Prendergast 0-1.	Referee: T Murray (Limerick)

Play-offs

Wexford v Antrim

9 April 1989 Relegation play-off	Wexford	3-21 - 2-9	Antrim	Croke Park, Dublin
	T Dempsey 0-10, S Byrne 2-2, S Wickham 1-3, G O'Connor 0-3, M Storey 0-1, B Prendergast 0-1, S Fitzhenry 0-1.		A McCarry 1-1, O McFetridge 0-4, T McNaughton 1-0, J McNaughton 0-2, M Sullivan 0-1, D McNaughton 0-1.	Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)

Antrim v Offaly

23 April 1989 Relegation play-off	Antrim	3-15 - 2-16 (AET)	Offaly	Drogheda Park, Drogheda
	C Barr 2-0, A McCarry 1-3, O McFetridge 0-4, B Donnelly 0-3, D Armstrong 0-2, J McNaughton 0-1, M Sullivan 0-1, JP McKillop 0-1.		M Corrigan 0-10, P Cleary 1-2, M Duignan 1-1, J Rigney 0-2, J Dooley 0-1.	Referee: O Long (Kilkenny)

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

Dublin v Limerick

26 March 1989 Quarter-final	Dublin	1-17 - 0-12	Limerick	O'Moore Park, Portlaoise
	S McDermott 1-4, K Hetherton 0-4, S Dalton 0-3, MJ Ryan 0-3, S Fleming 0-1, J Morris 0-1, B McMahon 0-1.		G Kirby 0-6, M Galligan 0-1, S Fitzgibbon 0-1, M Nelligan 0-1, C Carey 0-1, M Reale 0-1, D Marron 0-1.	Attendance: 12,000 Referee: J Denton (Wexford)

Kilkenny v Cork

2 April 1989 Quarter-final	Kilkenny	1-15 - 1-7	Cork	Semple Stadium, Thurles
	L Ryan 1-1, A Ronan 0-4, G Fennelly 0-4, R Power 0-3, L Fennelly 0-1, L Walsh 0-1, T O'Keeffe 0-1.		B Cunningham 1-1, M Mullins 0-2, P Kenneally 0-2, C Casey 0-1, T McCarthy 0-1.	Attendance: 7,500 Referee: P Delaney (Laois)

Semi-finals

Tipperary v Kilkenny

16 April 1989 Semi-final	Tipperary	0-15 – 1-11	Kilkenny	Croke Park, Dublin
	N English 0-5, M Cleary 0-4, P McGrath 0-2, Conal Bonnar 0-2, D Ryan 0-1, J Cormack 0-1.		A Ronan 1-3, R Power 0-3, C Heffernan 0-1, L Fennelly 0-1, L Walsh 0-1, T O'Keeffe 0-1, L Ryan 0-1.	Attendance: 35,881 Referee: J Denton (Wexford)

Galway v Dublin

16 April 1989 Semi-final	Galway	2-13 – 1-9	Dublin	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Cooney 1-3, E Ryan 1-0, T Keady 0-3, M McGrath 0-3, G Burke 0-3, M Ryan 0-1.		B McMahon 1-1, S McDermott 0-3, V Conroy 0-2, K Hetherton 0-2, J Twomey 0-1.	Attendance: 35,881 Referee: T Murray (Limerick)

Final

Galway v Tipperary

30 April 1989 Final	Galway	2-16 – 4-8	Tipperary	Croke Park, Dublin
	J Cooney 1-7, G Burke 1-2, E Ryan 0-3, M Naughton 0-2, M McGrath 0-1, M Coleman 0-1.		P McGrath 1-3, M Cleary 1-3, Cormac Bonnar 1-0, J Leahy 1-0, J Cormack 0-1, D Carr 0-1.	Attendance: 35,544 Referee: J Denton (Wexford)

Scoring statistics

Top scorers overall

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total
1	Adrian Ronan	Kilkenny	2-47	53
2	Mark Corrigan	Offaly	0-50	50
3	Joe Cooney	Galway	4-37	49
4	Pat McGrath	Tipperary	3-39	48
5	Gary Kirby	Limerick	2-35	41
6	Gerry Burke	Galway	7-14	35
7	Olcan McFetridge	Antrim	1-27	30
8	Éanna Ryan	Galway	4-16	28
8	Danny McNaughton	Antrim	2-22	28
10	Kieran Delahunty	Waterford	0-23	23

Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Gary Kirby	Limerick	2-06	12	Kilkenny
1	Jimmy Holohan	Wexford	1-09	12	Waterford
3	Paddy Corrigan	Offaly	2-04	10	Limerick
	Danny McNaughton	Antrim	1-07	10	Wexford
	Pat McGrath	Tipperary	1-07	10	Limerick
	Joe Cooney	Galway	1-07	10	Tipperary
	Pat McGrath	Tipperary	0-10	10	Wexford
	Tom Dempsey	Wexford	0-10	10	Antrim
	Mark Corrigan	Offaly	0-10	10	Antrim
10	Shane Fitzgibbon	Limerick	3-00	9	Wexford
	Gerry Burke	Galway	2-03	9	Offaly
	Adrian Ronan	Kilkenny	1-06	9	Waterford
	Gary Kirby	Limerick	0-09	9	Antrim
	Adrian Ronan	Kilkenny	0-09	9	Offaly

Division 2

Football league season

National Hurling League Division 2
Season	1988-89
Champions	Dublin
Promoted	Cork
Relegated	Derry Kerry
← 1987-88 1989-90 →

Clare, Cork, Derry and Meath entered Division 2 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.

On 12 March 1989, Dublin secured the title following a 3-7 to 1-3 win over Cork in the final round of the group stage. Cork secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.

Kerry and Derry were relegated from Division 2.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Dublin (C)	7	6	0	1	12	Promoted to Division 1
2	Cork	7	6	0	1	12	Promoted to Division 1
3	Clare	7	5	0	2	10
4	Laois	7	4	1	2	9
5	Westmeath	7	2	1	4	5
6	Meath	7	1	1	5	3
7	Derry	7	1	1	5	3	Relegated to Division 3
7	Kerry	7	1	0	6	2	Relegated to Division 3

Group stage

Derry v Cork

30 October 1988	Derry	1-09 - 1-11	Cork	Lavey GAA Grounds
			G O'Riordan 1-6, D O'Connell 0-1, G Fitzgerald 0-1, M Barry 0-1, B Harte 0-1, F Sheedy 0-1.

Cork v Laois

6 November 1988	Cork	1-13 - 1-08	Laois	Páirc Uí Chaoimh
	G O'Riordan 0-7, G Fitzgerald 1-0, M Barry 0-2, T O'Sullivan 0-1, L Kelly 0-1, D O'Connell 0-1, L Forde 0-1.

Clare v Cork

13 November 1988	Clare	2-07 - 4-09	Cork	Cusack Park
			G O'Riordan 0-5, L Forde 1-1, G Fitzgerald 1-0, M Foley 1-0, L Kelly 1-0, C Casey 0-1, T McCarthy 0-1, K Kingston 0-1.

Cork v Westmeath

27 November 1988	Cork	6-15 - 1-05	Westmeath	Páirc Uí Chaoimh
	M Foley 3-3, G Fitzgerald 1-4, L Forde 1-2, G O'Riordan 1-1, K Kingston 0-4, P Cahill 0-1.

Cork v Kerry

19 February 1989	Cork	2-12 - 1-07	Kerry	Clonmult Memorial Park
	G Fitzgerald 1-1, T O'Sullivan 1-1, L Forde 0-4, M Mullins 0-3, J Cashman 0-1, K Kingston 0-1, T Cooney 0-1.

Meath v Cork

5 March 1989	Meath	0-04 - 3-10	Cork	St. Loman's Park
			M Mullins 3-3, T O'Sullivan 0-5, L Forde 0-1, M Foley 0-1.

Dublin v Cork

12 March 1989	Dublin	3-07 - 1-03	Cork	Croke Park
			T O'Sullivan 1-0, M Mullins 0-2, J Cashman 0-1.

Division 3

Football league season

National Hurling League Division 3
Season	1988-89
Champions	Down
Promoted	Carlow
Relegated	Longford Mayo
← 1987-88 1989-90 →

Down, Longford and Roscommon entered Division 3 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.

On 12 March 1989, Down secured the title following a 7-5 to 1-9 win over Kildare in the final round of the group stage. Carlow secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.

Longford and Mayo were relegated from Division 3.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	Notes
1	Down (C)	7	7	0	14	Promoted to Division 2
2	Carlow	7	6	1	12	Promoted to Division 2
3	Roscommon	6	4	2	8
4	Kildare	7	4	3	8
5	Armagh	7	3	3	6
6	Wicklow	7	2	5	4
7	Longford	6	0	6	0	Relegated to Division 4
7	Mayo	6	0	6	0	Relegated to Division 4

Division 4

Football league season

National Hurling League Division 4
Season	1988-89
Champions	Monaghan
← 1987-88 1989-90 →

Tyrone entered Division 4 as the relegated team from the previous season.

On 7 May 1989, Monaghan secured the title following a 4-7 to 1-9 win over Louth in the league final.

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals

Monaghan v Fermanagh

23 April 1989 Semi-final

Monaghan

4-8 - 2-8

Fermanagh

Rory O'Moore Park, Belturbet

Louth v Sligo

23 April 1989 Semi-final

Louth

2-11 - 0-11

Sligo

Cootehill

Final

Monaghan v Louth

7 May 1989 Final

Monaghan

4-7 - 1-9

Louth

Páirc Esler, Newry

References

^ "National Hurling League Results 1925-2009". Hogan Stand. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
^ Smith, Raymond (1999). Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games. Dublin, Ireland. p. 208. ISBN 0950175870.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ "National Hurling League 1988/9". 15 January 2011.
^ "National Hurling League Results 1925-2009". Hogan Stand. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2011.