1955–56 National Hurling League

National Hurling League Division 2
Season	1955-56
Champions	Antrim; 1st Division 2 title
	← 1954–55 1956–57 → All statistics correct as of 22 March 2017.

National Hurling League Division 1
	<img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/47/1955%E2%80%9356_National_Hurling_League_final_prog.JPG/200px-1955%E2%80%9356_National_Hurling_League_final_prog.JPG" decoding="async" width="200" height="253" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="280" data-file-height="354">
Season	1955-56
Champions	Wexford; 1st National League title; Captain: Tom Ryan
	← 1954–55 1956–57 → All statistics correct as of 22 March 2017.

1955–56 National Hurling League
League details
Dates	16 October 1955 – 5 August 1956
Teams	18
League champions
Winners	Wexford (1st win)
Other division winners
Division 2	Antrim
	← 1954–55 1956–57 →

The 1955–56 National Hurling League was the 25th season of the National Hurling League.

New structure

As a result of a lack of interest from defeated first-round hurling teams in recent years, the GAA's Central Council introduced a new system of relegation and promotion for the 1955-56 league. Division 1 was confined to ten teams comprising two groups of five. The bottom-placed team in each group would play off to decide which of the two teams would be relegated. Division 2 was made up of eight teams comprising two groups of four. The first-placed teams in each group contested the final with the winners being promoted.

Division 1

Tipperary came into the season as defending champions of the 1954-55 season.

On 6 May 1956, Wexford won the title after a 5–9 to 2–14 win over Tipperary in the final. It was their first ever league title.^[1]

Limerick were relegated.

Group 1A table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Wexford	4	3	1	0	7	Division 1 champions
2	Cork	4	3	0	1	6
3	Dublin	4	2	0	2	4
4	Waterford	4	1	0	3	2
5	Kilkenny	4	0	1	3	1

Group 1B table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	Notes
1	Tipperary	4	4	0	8	Division 1 runners-up
2	Galway	4	3	1	6
3	Clare	4	2	2	4
4	Westmeath	4	1	3	2
5	Limerick	4	0	4	0	Relegated to Division 2

Knock-out stage

Final

6 May 1956 Final	Wexford	5-9 – 2-14	Tipperary	Croke Park, Dublin
	N Rackard 2-2, T Dixon 2-0, T Ryan 1-1, J Morrissey 0-2, N Wheeler 0-2, Padge Kehoe 0-2.		P Kenny 2-7, S Bannon 0-2, P Stakelum 0-2, L Devaney 0-1, L Keane 0-1, T English 0-1.	Attendance: 49,502

Division 2

In a new departure the Gaelic Athletic Association introduced a second division for the 'second tier' hurling teams. Division 2 featured eight teams divided into two groups - 2A and 2B. The first group featured Down, Meath, Antrim and Wicklow. The second group featured Offaly, Roscommon, Kerry and Laois. Antrim finished top of group 2A and were crowned champions after defeating group 2B winners Kerry in the final. Antrim thus won promotion to division one for the following year.

Group 2A table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	Notes
1	Antrim	3	3	0	6	Division 1 champions
2	Meath	3	2	1	4
3	Wicklow	3	1	2	2
4	Down	3	0	3	0

Group 2B table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	Notes
1	Kerry	3	3	0	6	Division 1 runners-up
2	Laois	3	2	1	4
3	Offaly	3	1	2	2
4	Roscommon	3	0	3	0

Knock-out stage

Finals

6 May 1956 Final	Antrim	2-7 - 1-10	Kerry	Croke Park, Dublin
				Attendance: 49,502

5 August 1956 Final replay

Antrim

4-14 - 5-4

Kerry

Croke Park, Dublin

References

^ "National Hurling League Results 1925-2009". Hogan Stand. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2011.

[1] "National Hurling League Results 1925-2009". Hogan Stand. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2011.

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