[1] Teams representing subdivisions of counties, such as Fingal and South Down have also participated at various times.

Ford, Royal Liver and Church & General have all served as sponsors of the league since then.

[3] The league season runs from late January to March with each team in the group playing each other once.

The top two teams in Division 1A will advance to the National Hurling League Final.

[4] The championship, however, was largely confined to the summer months, resulting in a lack of top class inter-county action between September and April.

Inter-county tournament games were popular as a way of filling the void, while some provinces organised their own pre-championship competitions, most notably the Thomond Feis in Munster.

While these had proved successful, it was decided to create a national senior inter-county league to provide games during the winter and spring months.

Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick and Tipperary - competed in a six-game single round-robin format.

At the end of the group stage the top two teams contested the league final.

The second league featured no final, with Tipperary being declared champions after securing 14 points from their group stage games.

The 1928-29 league featured twelve teams divided in two groups based on geographical position.

As a result of a lack of interest from defeated first-round teams in recent years, Central Council introduced a two-division league featuring a new system of relegation and promotion.

In the 20th century, National League fixtures were played during inter-county windows in the later and early months of the calendar year, while the SHC occupied the inter-county window during those months that made up the middle of the year, e.g. May, August.

Club competitions of lesser importance occurred alongside the inter-county games so as to provide meaningful game time for players possessed of insufficient ability to compete at the higher (inter-county) level.

From 1997, National League fixtures were played during the early months of the calendar year, preceding the SHC, which remained in the traditional mid-year position.

During the course of a season (from February to March) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of 21 games.

Stadium attendances are a significant source of regular income for Central Council and for the teams involved.

Fixtures in the five group stage rounds of the league are played at the home ground of one of the two teams involved.

The semi-finals of the league are usually played on the same day at the same venue as part of a double-header of games.

Semple Stadium, Nowlan Park and the Gaelic Grounds have all been used as the venues for the semi-finals.

Since 2000, Semple Stadium has been used on ten occasions as the host venue for the league final.

During the course of a season (from February to March) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of 21 games.

During the course of a season (from February to March) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of 21 games.

During the course of a season (from January to March) each team plays the others once (a single round-robin system) for a total of 21 games.

Setanta Sports also provides matches from the National Hurling League in Asia.

Setanta Sports broadcasts matches live on the Saturday evening slot.