The 2020 National Hurling League is the 89th season of the National Hurling League for county teams. Division 1 was restructured in 2020 into two groups of approximately equal strength. The league was originally scheduled to end on 29 March 2020. The public health measures introduced to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland resulted in most of the final stages being delayed to October and the Division 1 final stage being reduced from five games to one. Eir Sport and RTÉ provide live TV coverage of the league on Saturday nights. TG4 broadcast Sunday afternoon games. The highlights programmes are RTÉ2's League Sunday on Sunday evenings, TG4's GAA 2020 on Monday evenings and Eir Sport's Allianz Leagues Reloaded on Wednesday evenings.
Format
League structure Thirty-five teams compete in the 2020 NHL –
twelve teams organised in two six-team groups of approximately equal strength in Division 1
six teams in Divisions 2A, 2B and 3A
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 semi-finals had been proposed to finish on the day the games are played avoiding the need for replays. If a 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 is to be decided by a free-taking competition. This is intended to prevent games from going to a replay and allow the league finals to be held on the scheduled date. 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 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 1
The top team in each group qualifies for the NHL final.
The bottom team in each group 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 1
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
Division 1
Division 1 Format
The top twelve teams compete in Division 1 in two six-team groups of approximately equal strength based on their league performance in 2019. This group structure was introduced in 2020. 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 team in each group qualifies for the league final. The last-placed team in each group plays in the relegation playoff with the losers being relegated to Division 2A.
