Thirty-five teams compete in the 2019 NHL – six teams in the top five divisions (Divisions 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A) and five teams in Division 3B. All thirty-two county teams from Ireland take part. London, Lancashire and Warwickshire complete the lineup.
Each team plays all the other teams in their division once, either home or away. Two points are awarded for a win, and one for a draw.
The Division 1 hurling quarter-finals and semi-finals will finish on the day the games are played avoiding the need for replays. If a quarter-final or semi-final is level after the initial seventy minutes, still level after two ten minute periods of extra time played each way, and still level after two further five minute periods of extra time, the outcome will be decided by a free-taking competition. This will prevent games from going to a replay and allow the league finals to be held on the scheduled date.[3]
Tie-breaker
If only two teams are level on league points, the team that won the head-to-head match is ranked ahead. If this game was a draw, score difference (total scored minus total conceded in all games) is used to rank the teams.
If three or more teams are level on league points, score difference is used to rank the teams.
Finals, promotions and relegations
Division 1A
The top four teams qualify for the Division 1 quarter-finals
The bottom two teams meet in a relegation play-off, with the losers being relegated to Division 1B
Division 1B
The top team is promoted to Division 1A
The top four teams qualify for the Division 1 quarter-finals
The bottom two teams meet in a relegation play-off, with the losers being relegated to Division 2A
Division 2A
The top two teams meet in Division 2A final, with the winners being promoted to Division 1B
The bottom team is relegated to Division 2B
Division 2B
The top two teams meet in Division 2B final, with the winners being promoted to Division 2A
The bottom two teams meet in a relegation play-off, with the losers being relegated to Division 3A
Division 3A
The top two teams meet in Division 3A final, with the winners being promoted to Division 2B
The bottom team is relegated to Division 3B
Division 3B
The top two teams meet in Division 3B final, with the winners being promoted to Division 3A[4]
Division 1
Division 1 Format
The 12 teams in Division 1 are ranked into two groups - teams ranked one to six in Division 1A and teams ranked seven to twelve in Division 1B. Each team play all the other teams in their group once. Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw. The top four teams in both 1A and 1B advance to the league quarter-finals with the top team in 1A playing the fourth team in 1B, the second team in 1A playing the third in 1B, etc. Two semi-finals and a final follow.
Division 1A Table
NHL quarter-finals Bottom play-off, loser relegated
The hurling quarter-finals finish on the day the games are played, avoiding the need for replays. If the score is level after the initial seventy minutes, still level after two ten minute periods of extra time played each way, and still level after a further two five minute periods of extra time, a free-taking competition is held. Each team nominates five players to take frees from their chosen position on a sixty five metre line selected by the referee and without defenders. The nominated players from each team take alternate turns. If the teams score an equal number of the five frees, the outcome of the match is decided by sudden death frees using the same nominated players in the same order.[5]
The fixtures are 1st in Division 1A plays 4th in Division 1B, 2nd in Division 1A plays 3rd in Division 1B, etc. Home advantage is decided by whichever team has played fewer home games in their five league games, with a coin toss taking place if this number is the same for both teams.
1st in Division 1A
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4th in Division 1B
2nd in Division 1A
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3rd in Division 1B
3rd in Division 1A
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2nd in Division 1B
4th in Division 1A
v
1st in Division 1B
Division 1 Semi-Finals
The hurling semi-finals finish on the day the games are played, avoiding the need for replays. If the score is level after the initial seventy minutes, still level after two ten minute periods of extra time played each way, and still level after a further two five minute periods of extra time, a free-taking competition is held. Each team nominates five players to take frees from their chosen position on a sixty five metre line selected by the referee and without defenders. The nominated players from each team take alternate turns. If the teams score an equal number of the five frees, the outcome of the match is decided by sudden death frees using the same nominated players in the same order.
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Division 1 Final
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Division 1A Relegation Play-Off
Division 1B Relegation Play-Off
Division 2A
Division 2A Table
Division final, winner promoted Automatic relegation to Division 2B