[1] 34 GAA county hurling teams: 32 from Ireland (including Fingal but not Cavan), London and Warwickshire, contested it.
[2] On the final day of fixtures in division 1A on 31 March, all six teams had a chance of either reaching the league semi-finals, or suffering relegation.
In the second half Lar Corbett and JJ Delaney were sent off in the 46th minute after they wrestled each other on the ground near the Kilkenny goal.
Ryan scored 1-10 in six games from midfield including 0-3 in the semi-final win over Galway and 0-3 in the final victory against Tipperary.
Setanta Sports also provided coverage of matches from the National Hurling League to viewers in Asia.