The 1987–88 National Hurling League (known as the Royal Liver National Hurling League for sponsorship reasons) was the 57th edition of the National Hurling League.
Division 1
Galway came into the season as defending champions of the 1985-86 season. Westmeath and Wexford entered Division 1 as the promoted teams.
On 24 April 1988, Tipperary won the title following a 3-15 to 2-9 win over Offaly in the final. It was their first league title since 1978-79 and their 14th National League title overall.
Clare and Cork were relegated from Division 1.
Tipperary's Pat Fox was the Division 1 top scorer with 6-40.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLDiffPtsNotes1 Wexford 751123112 Waterford 750215103 Tipperary 7412209Division 1 champions4 Galway 73311595 Kilkenny 74031486 Limerick 7205-1947 Clare 7205-374Relegated to Division 28 Cork 7016-311Relegated to Division 2
Group stage
Play-off
Knock-out stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Scoring statistics
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Pat FoxTipperary6-4058105.802Nicky EnglishTipperary7-33543Jimmy HolohanWexford3-44534Val DonnellanClare3-415086.255Gary KirbyLimerick2-384485.506Kieran DelahuntyWaterford1-394285.257Joe CooneyGalway1-35388Mickey MullinsCork2-21279Tom DempseyWexford2-1420Anthony CunninghamGalway2-1420
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Nicky EnglishTipperary2-1117Waterford2Nicky EnglishTipperary2-0713Antrim3Pat FoxTipperary2-0612Clare4Pat FoxTipperary2-0410LimerickJimmy HolohanWexford2-0410GalwayPat FoxTipperary2-0410WaterfordVal DonnellanClare1-0710Limerick8Kieran DelahuntyWaterford1-069KilkennyJimmy HolohanWexford1-069WaterfordJoe CooneyGalway1-069ClareJimmy HolohanWexford0-099KilkennyPat FoxTipperary0-099WaterfordMark CorriganOffaly0-099Wexford
Division 2
Down, Offaly, Roscommon and Westmeath entered Division 2 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
On 6 March 1988, Offaly secured the title following a 1-13 to 3-4 win over Down in the final round of the group stage. Antrim secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.
Down and Roscommon were relegated from Division 2.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Offaly (C)770014 Promoted to Division 12 Antrim 750210 Promoted to Division 13 Dublin 740384 Laois 740385 Kerry 731376 Westmeath 721457 Down 71244Relegated to Division 38 Roscommon 70070Relegated to Division 3
Division 3
Mayo, Meath and Tyrone entered Division 3 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
Meath secured the title following a 5-7 to 2-5 win over Kildare in the final round of the group stage. Derry secured promotion to Division 2 as the second-placed team.
Tyrone were relegated from Division 3.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Meath (C)770014 Promoted to Division 22 Derry760112 Promoted to Division 26 Kildare 7502103 Carlow 7502104 Mayo 730465 Armagh 730467 Wicklow730468 Tyrone70070 Relegated to Division 4
Division 4
Monaghan entered Division 4 as the relegated team from the previous season.
On 29 July 1988, Longford secured the title following a 2-9 to 2-7 win over Monaghan in a replay of the league final.
Knock-out stage
Semi-final
Finals
External links 1987-88 National Hurling League results
References