# 1961–62 National Hurling League

The 1961–62 National Hurling League was the 31st season of the National Hurling League.

## Division 1

The league saw a major restructuring for the 1961–62 season. Division 1 was split into Group 1A and Group 1B consisting of five teams each and Group 1C consisting of four teams. The top team in each group qualified for the knock-out stage.
Tipperary came into the season as defending champions of the 1960-61 season. Offaly and Westmeath entered Division 1 as part of the restructuring.
On 6 May 1962, Kilkenny won the title after a 1–16 to 1–8 win over Cork in the final. It was their first league title since 1932-33 and their second league title overall.

### Division 1A table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Notes |
| 1 | Cork | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | National League runners-up |
| 2 | Waterford | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Limerick | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Wexford | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | Carlow | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |

### Division 1B table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Notes |
| 1 | Kilkenny | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | National League champions |
| 2 | Tipperary | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Clare | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Offaly | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | Laois | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |

### Division 1C table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Dublin | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | Galway | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | Westmeath | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Antrim | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |

### Knock-out stage

Semi-final
Final

### Top scorer
#### Top scorers overall

| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total |
| 1 | Christy Ring | Cork | 13-18 | 57 |
| 2 | Denis Heaslip | Kilkenny | 11-08 | 41 |
| 3 | Eddie Keher | Kilkenny | 2-24 | 30 |
| 4 | Fran Whelan | Dublin | 4-12 | 24 |
| 5 | Donie Nealon | Tipperary | 5-08 | 23 |
| 6 | John McKenna | Tipperary | 6-02 | 20 |
| 7 | Oliver McGrath | Wexford | 5-04 | 19 |
| 7 | Mick Quane | Cork | 6-01 | 19 |
| 8 | Séamus Power | Waterford | 4-05 | 17 |
| 8 | Tim Sweeney | Galway | 3-08 | 17 |

#### Top scorers in a single game

| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Denis Heaslip | Kilkenny | 6-00 | 18 | Offaly |
| 2 | John McKenna | Tipperary | 5-01 | 16 | Offaly |
| 3 | Christy Ring | Cork | 4-03 | 15 | Carlow |
| 4 | Oliver McGrath | Wexford | 4-02 | 14 | Carlow |
| 4 | Denis Heaslip | Kilkenny | 3-05 | 14 | Laois |
| 5 | Christy Ring | Cork | 3-03 | 12 | Wexford |
| 5 | Liam Dowling | Cork | 3-03 | 12 | Dublin |
| 5 | Donie Nealon | Tipperary | 3-03 | 12 | Offaly |
| 5 | Eddie Keher | Kilkenny | 1-09 | 12 | Clare |

## Division 2

The league saw a major restructuring for the 1961–62 season. Division 2 was split into Group 2A and Group 2B consisting of three teams each. The top team in each group qualified for the knock-out stage.
On 20 May 1962, Kerry won the title after a 3–8 to 1–2 win over Meath.

### Division 2A table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Notes |
| 1 | Meath | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Division 2 runners-up |
| 2 | Down | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Wicklow | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

### Division 2B table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Notes |
| 1 | Kerry | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Division 2 champions |
| 2 | Roscommon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Kildare | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

### Knock-out stage

Final