1973–74 National Hurling League

1973–74 National Hurling League

League details
Dates	7 October 1973 – 5 May 1974
League champions
Winners	Cork (10th win)
Captain	John Horgan
League runners-up
Runners-up	Limerick
Captain	Willie Fitzmaurice
← 1972–73 1974–75 →

The 1973–74 National Hurling League was the 43rd season of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams.

Overview

Division 1

The National Hurling League's top division featured sixteen teams divided into two groups - 1A and 1B. Each group consisted of eight teams. After a relatively successful run through the group stages, recording just one loss, Cork won their fourth league title in six seasons, their first since 1971-72. Limerick, who were league runners-up, finished second in the group stage, however, they lost the final for the third year in succession.

Down at the other end of the tables, Galway lost five of their group stage games and were relegated to Division 1B after two seasons in the top grade. They swapped places with Dublin who, having enjoyed an unbeaten run in the group stage, topped Division 1B and gained promotion to the top eight in Division 1A for the following season. Kerry lost six of their group stage games, recording just a single victory. They and Westmeath were relegated to Division 2 for the following season.

Tables

Division 1A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Diff	Pts	Notes
1	Cork	7	5	1	1	+28	11	Division 1 champions
2	Limerick	7	4	2	1	+30	10	Division 1 runners-up
3	Tipperary	7	4	0	3	+10	8
4	Waterford	7	3	1	3	+3	7
5	Wexford	7	3	0	4	-2	6
6	Clare	7	3	0	4	-13	6
7	Kilkenny	7	1	2	4	-6	4
8	Galway	7	2	0	5	-50	4	Relegated to Division 1B

Division 1B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Diff	Pts	Notes
1	Dublin	7	6	1	0	+54	14	Promoted to Division 1A
2	Kildare	6	5	0	1	+67	10
3	Offaly	7	5	0	2	+25	10
4	Laois	7	4	0	3	+25	8
5	Antrim	7	3	0	4	+4	6
6	Wicklow	7	2	0	5	-61	4
7	Westmeath	7	1	0	6	-77	2
8	Kerry	6	0	0	6	-53	0

Results

Knock-out stage

Tipperary v Kildare

10 March 1974 Quarter-final	Tipperary	2-16 - 2-10	Kildare	Semple Stadium, Thurles
2.00 p.m.	F. Loughnane (1-6), M. Keating (1-4), J. Kehoe (0-3), J. Lynam (0-2), S. Power (0-1).		J. O'Leary (2-1), J. Walsh (0-5), N. Walsh (0-2), M. Deely (0-1), J. O'Connell (0-1).	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: F. Murphy (Cork)

Waterford v Dublin

10 March 1974 Quarter-final	Waterford	2-5 - 2-10	Dublin	Semple Stadium, Thurles
3.30 p.m.	M. Ormonde (1-1), P. O'Grday (0-4), L. Canning (1-0).		M. Bermingham (1-7), N. Kinsella (1-1), E. Davey (0-1), R. Walsh (0-1).	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: S. O'Connor (Limerick)

Dublin v Cork

7 April 1974 Semi-final	Dublin	1-11 - 0-18	Cork	Croke Park, Dublin
2.15 p.m.	D. Walsh (1-1), P. Quigley (0-4), M. Bermingham (0-3), N. Kinsella (0-2), E. Davey (0-1).		C. McCarthy (0-8), S. O'Leary (0-3), É. O'Donoghue (0-2), C. Roche (0-2), G. McCarthy (0-1), J. McCarthy (0-1), D. Coughlan (0-1).	Referee: N. Dalton (Waterford)

Limerick v Tipperary

21 April 1974 Semi-final	Limerick	1-16 - 3-8	Tipperary	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
3.30 p.m.	N. Rea (1-4), R. Bennis (0-4), J. McKenna (0-3), F. Nolan (0-2), L. O'Donoghue (0-2), É. Grimes (0-1).		F. Loughnane (2-5), J. Kehoe (1-1), M. Keating (0-2).	Attendance: 26,280 Referee: M. Spain (Offaly)

Cork v Limerick

5 May 1974 Final	Cork	6-15 - 1-12	Limerick	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
3.30 p.m.	É. O'Donoghue (3-0), G. McCarthy (0-8), S. O'Leary (1-2), C. McCarthy (1-1), T. O'Brien (1-0), M. Malone (0-3), J. Buckley (0-1).		R. Bennis (0-4), N. Rea (1-0), F. Nolan (0-3), É. Grimes (0-3), M. Ruth (0-1), L. O'Donoghue (0-1).	Attendance: 25,100 Referee: P. Johnston (Kilkenny)