NHL Power Rankings Don’t Lie,or do they ?
Where NHL Division 1A and 1B Really Stand After Two Rounds
League tables can flatter and they can deceive. Two games into the National Hurling League, points totals only tell part of the story. Performances, scoring patterns, concession rates, and how teams win or lose tell you far more about where a side actually is.
After two rounds, clear shapes are already forming in both NHL Division 1A and Division 1B. Some teams are winning convincingly, some are surviving, and others are already fighting the tide.
This is how it looks when you strip it back and judge what’s actually happened on the field.
NHL Division 1A – Scoring power, control, and warning signs
1. Tipperary
Two games, two wins, and already the most complete profile in the division.
The opening night in Thurles against Galway was everything January hurling usually is, wet, stop-start, and edgy. Galway had their moments, but Tipp showed something important early in the league, patience. The sides were level 11 times, Galway sprayed 14 wides, and Tipp never panicked. Jake Morris carried the leadership load, finishing with 0-08, five from play, before providing the assist for the decisive moment.
That moment was Darragh Stakelum’s 64th-minute goal, a move built, not gifted. Tipp closed the game out from there with Morris and Séamus Kennedy adding points as Galway faded.
If Round 1 showed composure, Round 2 showed brutality.
The visit to Tullamore turned into a one-sided demolition. Tipp led by five at half-time and then blew the game apart with a devastating second-half burst. They finished with 5-24, conceding just 1-19, and crucially they did it without waste. Jason Forde was unplayable, rattling 3-10, including a penalty and two ’65s, while John McGrath struck for goal immediately after the break to set the tone.
What stood out was the spread and efficiency. Paddy McCormack, Jack Leamy, Conor Stakelum, Josh Keller, and Gearóid O’Connor all chipped in, while at the other end Bryan O’Mara’s full-back display underlined how balanced this side already is.
Two games in, Tipp have shown they can win a scrap and then obliterate an opponent. That’s early days championship behaviour.
2. Cork
Cork are unbeaten and dangerous, but their profile is slightly different.
Round 1 against Waterford was as one-sided as it gets at this level. Cork hit 3-25, and the contest was effectively over before half-time. Declan Dalton struck 1-04 before being withdrawn early, William Buckley announced himself with 1-04, and Cork barely missed in the opening quarter. Ten shots, ten scores inside the first 12 minutes told its own story.
Waterford were overwhelmed by pace, movement, and relentless pressure. Cork’s half-back line, led by Rob Downey and Mark Coleman, swallowed up restarts and fed wave after wave of attack.
Round 2 in Salthill was the real test. Galway flew out of the blocks, leading 1-7 to 0-3, and Cork were under pressure early. They responded with goals at the right moments, Brian Hayes coming off the bench to strike twice, while Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy, Alan Connolly, and Darragh Fitzgibbon kept the scoreboard moving.
Galway finished strongly, landing the final five points, and Cork were forced to manage the closing stages rather than dominate them. They did so successfully, but it was a reminder that they can be got at if the opposition carry goal threat.
Still, two wins,a scoring total of 60 points, and depth everywhere puts Cork firmly in the league final picture.
3. Kilkenny
One game played, but a very Kilkenny game.
The win over Offaly at Nowlan Park was attritional, messy, and low-scoring, exactly the kind of fixture Kilkenny are comfortable in. They led 0-09 to 0-06 at half-time, were reeled back to a point twice in the second half, and answered each time through experience and game sense.
Eoin Cody was central, finishing with 0-10, seven frees and a ’65, while Martin Keoghan and Jordan Molloy contributed from play. Paddy Deegan and Richie Reid steadied things when Offaly threatened late.
It wasn’t pretty, but Kilkenny took the points and moved on. With only one game played, judgement is reserved, but they’ve shown already that they know how to manage league fixtures.Limerick next.
4. Waterford
Waterford are already a study in contrast.
The Cork game was a disaster. They conceded 3-25, were shredded on restarts, and spent long spells chasing shadows. Reuben Halloran did what he could, finishing with 0-13, and Shane Bennett struck a penalty goal, but structurally they were overwhelmed.
Seven days later, the response was excellent.
Against Limerick at Walsh Park, Waterford were disciplined, aggressive, and composed. Halloran again carried the scoring load with 0-11, ten frees and a ’65, while Bennett’s penalty goal proved decisive after Matthew Fitzgerald’s black card. They closed the game out intelligently, with Billy Nolan adding late frees to copper-fasten the win.
The problem for Waterford is consistency. The ceiling is clear, but so is the floor. That’s why they sit mid-pack for now.
5. Limerick
One game played, one game lost, and pressure already mounting on many peoples favourites for the All Ireland.
Limerick’s trip to Waterford ended in frustration. They stayed in touch throughout, Aidan O’Connor finishing with 0-08, Shane O’Brien adding 0-04, and Gearóid Hegarty striking three points, but they conceded the game’s only goal and couldn’t recover.
For a side with ambitions of topping the group, falling behind early in the league is dangerous. The Kilkenny outing will define whether this was ring rust or a genuine issue.
6. Galway
Two games, two defeats, and a growing sense of what might have been.
In Thurles, Galway matched Tipp stride for stride for long spells, were level at half-time, and still left the field empty-handed. Fourteen wides told the story of that evening.
Sobering for Galway in that they have now lost their last 4 NHL games in a row.
In Salthill, they exploded early against Cork, hitting 1-07 in the opening quarter, Cathal Mannion and Tom Monaghan prominent. But again, goals conceded at key moments undid them. Cork struck twice, Galway didn’t respond in kind, and another narrow defeat followed.
There is scoring there, Mannion, Niland, Lee, Monaghan, but until Galway cut down waste and protect the goal better, results will continue to slip away.
7. Offaly
Offaly are bottom of NHL 1A because the numbers are unforgiving.
They competed gamely against Kilkenny, staying within touching distance deep into the second half, Adam Screeney keeping them alive with 0-09. But the trip to Tullamore against Tipp exposed the gap brutally.
Conceding 5-24 is not about one line or one player. It’s about the collective inability to slow momentum once a top-tier side gets going. Brian Duignan’s goal and a handful of scores kept the board ticking, but Tipp ran riot once the game opened up.
Right now, Offaly are chasing survival and staying out of the bottom 2 when this all ends.
NHL Division 1B – Promotion pace and pressure already clear
1. Clare
Clare look like a Division 1A side playing in the wrong competition.
Round 1 against Dublin was tight, high-quality, and tense. Dublin pushed hard, Dónal Burke landed frees for fun, and Clare were wasteful early. But Clare struck goals at precisely the right times, David Reidy, Peter Duggan, and finally Tony Kelly in injury time to seal it.
Round 2 was an entirely different story. In Cushendall, Clare blew Antrim apart, finishing with 2-30. Mark Rodgers was relentless, striking 0-12, Shane Meehan added 1-03, David Fitzgerald chipped in with 1-01, and Tony Kelly dictated large stretches.
Two games, 66 points scored, and total control when it mattered. Clare are the benchmark.
2. Dublin
Dublin are second because their performances have been strong even in defeat.
The loss in Ennis came with credit. They scored 1-22, Brian Hayes struck 1-03, and Burke finished with 0-11, including a penalty. They were right in it until the final moments.
Round 2 was ruthless. Kildare were put away early, Ronan Hayes striking two goals inside 15 minutes, and Dublin never eased off. They finished with 2-19, conceding just 0-10, and controlled the game throughout.
Their scoring difference and consistency puts them firmly in the promotion conversation.
3. Wexford
Unbeaten, but living dangerously against much lower ranked opposition.
Round 1 needed a moment of madness and brilliance combined. In driving rain, Wexford and Antrim slogged it out, Simon Roche keeping Wexford alive from frees before veteran goalkeeper Mark Fanning stepped up deep into added time to fire a free into the net and steal it.
Round 2 followed a similar script. Wexford led 0-20 to 0-12 at half-time in Ballycran and looked comfortable. Then Down came storming back. Pearse Óg McCrickard, Paul Sheehan, and Daithí Sands dragged the hosts level at 0-25 apiece before Conor Hearne and Simon Roche finally got Wexford over the line late on.
They are winning, but the margins are paper thin. Could there be an upset coming v Carlow in Round 3 ?
4. Carlow
One game played, but it was an eye-catcher.
Down led at half-time in Netwatch Cullen Park, but Carlow obliterated them after the break. Donagh Murphy finished with 1-04, John Michael Nolan struck 1-02, and Carlow pulled clear once Down lost a defender to a red card.
It was not pretty, but it was authoritative. One data point only, but a strong one. Near Neighbours next.
5. Down
Two defeats, but not without encouragement.
Carlow pulled away late in Round 1, but Round 2 showed real backbone. Down dragged Wexford from eight points down back to parity late on, McCrickard striking 0-09, Sheehan adding 0-05 off the bench, and Sands and Hughes contributing.
The issue is conceding runs. Until they tighten up defensively, good performances won’t turn into points.Their final round game V Ulster Neighbours, Antrim could decide their 1b survival.
6. Antrim
Antrim have scored enough to worry teams but conceded far too much.
They were seconds away from beating Wexford in Round 1 before the controversial late finish. Seaan Elliot finished with 0-7 and Conor Johnston struck a goal, but they couldn’t close it out.
Round 2 was a different level of punishment. Clare hit 2-30, and despite Elliot’s 0-10 and Conal Cunning’s goal, Antrim were overwhelmed.
7. Kildare
Bottom on output alone.
One game, one heavy defeat, and just 0-10 scored. Dublin suffocated them from the off, and once two early goals went in, there was no way back. Improvement is needed immediately, or this becomes a long campaign.
NHL Allianz Hurling League Round 3
In-Depth Match Predictions and Scorelines
NHL Division 1A
Cork v Tipperary
Venue: Cork
Date: 7 February 2026
This is already shaping as the defining game of Division 1A. Both sides are 2-0, both are scoring heavily, but the routes they’ve taken here are different.
Cork have hit a total score of 60 points in two games, with big contributions from Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy and Brian Hayes. Their half-forward line is doing serious damage, particularly when games open up. However, Galway finishing with the last five points in Round 2 exposed something, Cork can be forced into defending momentum late if they don’t land a knockout blow.
Tipperary, by contrast, have looked ruthless when the chance arises. They absorbed pressure against Galway, then obliterated Offaly with 5-24, driven by Jason Forde’s 3-10, John McGrath’s early second-half goal, and relentless efficiency across the line. Tipp have also conceded just a total score of 41 points, the best defensive return in the division.
The key battle is Tipp’s full-back line,potentially led by Bryan O’Mara, against Cork’s inside movement.
Prediction: Cork win
Predicted score:
Cork 2-25
Tipperary 1-23
Waterford v Offaly
Venue: Waterford
Date: 8 February 2026
This is a pressure game for different reasons. Waterford need consistency, Offaly need a response.
Waterford’s bounce-back against Limerick was built on work rate, discipline, and Reuben Halloran’s scoring accuracy, 0-11, backed by Shane Bennett’s penalty goal. They slowed the game, managed possession better, and closed it out with Billy Nolan’s frees.
Offaly’s problem is structural. They conceded 5-24 to Tipperary, and once the game stretched, they couldn’t stem the flow. Brian Duignan and Adam Screeney can keep a scoreboard ticking, but Offaly are conceding too many goal chances when opponents turn the screw.
At home, with confidence restored, Waterford will fancy their chances of dominating the middle third and forcing Offaly into long spells without possession.
Prediction: Waterford win
Predicted score:
Waterford 2-22
Offaly 1-18
Limerick v Kilkenny
Venue: Limerick
Date: 8 February 2026
This is an early-season fork in the road.
Limerick cannot afford to go 0-2. Their loss to Waterford came despite solid returns from Aidan O’Connor 0-08 and Shane O’Brien 0-04, but conceding the only goal proved fatal. There was fluency in patches, but not enough control.
Kilkenny arrive with just one game played, but it was a classic Kilkenny win. They weathered pressure from Offaly, leaned on Eoin Cody’s 0-10, and managed the final quarter intelligently. They’re comfortable in games that never quite settle.
This one feels tight and tactical. Kilkenny will want to avoid dragging it into a physical arm-wrestle, Limerick will want tempo and directness. Home advantage and urgency may just swing it.
Prediction: Limerick win
Predicted score:
Limerick 1-21
Kilkenny 0-19
NHL Division 1B
Wexford v Carlow
Venue: Wexford
Date: 7 February 2026
This is far closer than the table suggests.
Wexford are 2-0, but both wins came via late drama. Mark Fanning’s last-gasp goal rescued them against Antrim, while Simon Roche and Conor Hearne had to dig them out late in Ballycran after Down dragged them back from eight points down.
Carlow, meanwhile, only have one game played, but it was authoritative. Donagh Murphy 1-04 and John Michael Nolan 1-02 powered a dominant second half after trailing at the break. Once they got momentum, they ran away from Down.
The question is whether Carlow can sustain that intensity away from home. Wexford will rely heavily on Roche’s frees and Fanning’s distribution, but if Carlow get joy inside early, this could turn uncomfortable and an upset could be on the cards.
Prediction: Wexford to edge it
Predicted score:
Wexford 1-21
Carlow 1-19
Clare v Down
Venue: Ennis
Date: 8 February 2026
Clare have set a standard that nobody else in 1B has matched yet.
They’ve scored a total socre of 66 points in two games, with Mark Rodgers 0-12 last time out, Shane Meehan 1-03, Tony Kelly pulling strings, and David Fitzgerald adding goal threat. They’ve also shown they can win tight, as they did against Dublin.
Down deserve credit for their second half against Wexford, hauling the game back to 0-25 apiece through Pearse Óg McCrickard, Paul Sheehan, and Daithí Sands. But doing that in Ennis is a different challenge altogether.
If Clare get a run of scores early, this could open quickly.
Prediction: Clare win comfortably
Predicted score:
Clare 3-27
Down 0-22
Kildare v Antrim
Venue: Newbridge
Date: 8 February 2026
This already feels like a relegation-pressure game.
Kildare managed just 0-10 against Dublin, with very little from play, and spent most of the evening chasing shadows. They need a serious uplift in scoring output or this will get away from them quickly.
Antrim have at least shown scoring life. Seaan Elliot has hit 0-17 across two games, and Conal Cunning offers a goal threat, but defensively they’ve leaked heavily, conceding 2-30 to Clare.
This could be scrappy, tense, and tight, but Antrim’s greater scoring firepower should tell.
Prediction: Antrim win
Predicted score:
Kildare 0-16
Antrim 1-20