| League details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 1938 – 30 April 1939 |
| Teams | 10 |
| League champions | |
| Winners | Dublin (2nd win) |
| Captain | Mick Gill, Junior |
| League runners-up | |
| Runners-up | Waterford |
| Captain | John Keane |
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← 1937–38
1939–40 →
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The 1938–39 National Hurling League was the 12th season of the NHL, an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams.
The National Hurling League featured three groups of teams - Group A, Group B and Group C. Waterford remained unbeaten in Group A, after recording three wins and one draw. In Group B Dublin had four wins from their four games. Group C only contained three teams, with Wexford winning both and topping the group. Dublin received a bye into the final, while Waterford defeated Wexford in a lone semi-final. Dublin won the subsequent final.