1987–88 National Hurling League

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.

1987–88 National Hurling League
League details
Dates11 October 1987 – 29 July 1988
League champions
WinnersTipperary (15th win)
Other division winners
Division 2Offaly
Division 3Meath
Division 4Longford

Division 1

National Hurling League Division 1
Season1987-88
ChampionsTipperary
15th National League title
Captain: Pat O'Neill
Manager: Michael Keating
RelegatedClare
Cork
Matches played34
Top goalscorer Pat Fox (6-40)
1986-87
1988-89
All statistics correct as of 24 February 2017.

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.[1]

Clare and Cork were relegated from Division 1.

Tipperary's Pat Fox was the Division 1 top scorer with 6-40.

Table

PosTeamPldWDLDiffPtsNotes
1 Wexford 75112311
2 Waterford 75021510
3 Tipperary 7412209Division 1 champions
4 Galway 7331159
5 Kilkenny 7403148
6 Limerick 7205-194
7 Clare 7205-374Relegated to Division 2
8 Cork 7016-311Relegated to Division 2

Group stage

11 October 1987 Tipperary 3-12 - 1-4 Limerick Semple Stadium, Thurles
P Fox 2-4, A Ryan 0-4, A Buckley 1-0, P Fitzell 0-2, N English 0-1, D O'Connell 0-1.T Kenny 1-0, G Kirby 0-2, G Hegarty 0-1, A Carmody 0-1.Referee: J Moore (Waterford)
11 October 1987 Clare 1-14 - 1-11 Wexford Cusack Park, Ennis
V Donnellan 0-7, D Chaplin 1-2, T Guilfoyle 0-2, P Barry 0-1, A Cunningham 0-1, S Heaslip 0-1.T Dempsey 0-8, B Byrne 1-1, R Murphy 0-1, John O'Connor 0-1.Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)
11 October 1987 Waterford 2-14 - 1-10 Kilkenny Walsh Park, Waterford
K Delahunty 1-6, S Ahearn 1-0, B O'Sullivan 0-3, P Bennett 0-2, N Crowley 0-2, D Byrne 0-1.L McCarthy 1-0, T Bawle 0-3, R Power 0-2, H Ryan 0-1, T Lennon 0-1, S Whearty 0-1, L Ryan 0-1, B Young 0-1.Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)
25 October 1987 Kilkenny 0-13 - 0-15 Galway Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
T Leahy 0-7, H Ryan 0-2, L Ryan 0-1, S Whearty 0-1, R Power 0-1, E Morrissey 0-1.J Cooney 0-8, P Nolan 0-3, P Higgins 0-2, M McGrath 0-1, PJ Molloy 0-1.
25 October 1987 Wexford 2-11 - 1-7 Tipperary St. Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy
J Hoilihan 0-7, M Morrissey 1-1, J McDonald 1-0, T Dempsey 0-2, B Byrne 0-1.G Maher 1-0, A Ryan 0-3, P Fox 0-2, P Delaney 0-1, C Stakelum 0-1.
25 October 1987 Limerick 3-9 - 1-11 Clare Bruff Sportsfield, Bruff
S Fitzgibbon 2-0, T Kenny 1-0, G Kirby 0-3, M Nelligan 0-1, M Reale 0-1, T Quaid 0-1, B Finn 0-1, P Creamer 0-1.V Donnellan 1-7, D Ryan 0-1, T Guilfoyle 0-1, S Heaslip 0-1, A Cunningham 0-1.
25 October 1987 Cork 0-10 - 3-10 Waterford Páirc Mac Gearailt, Fermoy
M Foley 0-4, J Griffin 0-2, E Kavanagh 0-1, S McCarthy 0-1, G Manley 0-1, J Tobin 0-1.J Quirke 2-2, B O'Sullivan 1-1, K Delahunty 0-3, S Ahearne 0-3, N Crowley 0-1.Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
8 November 1987 Clare 1-6 - 2-9 Waterford Cusack Park, Ennis
V Donnellan 0-6, T Guilfoyle 1-0.B O'Sullivan 2-0, K Delahunty 0-5, M Walsh 0-2, S Ahern 0-2.Referee: P Long (Kilkenny)
8 November 1987 Wexford 0-11 - 0-7 Kilkenny Wexford Park, Wexford
J Houlihan 0-9, P Carton 0-1, B Byrne 0-1.T Leahy 0-5, L Fennelly 0-1, H Ryan 0-1.Referee: S Moore (Waterford)
8 November 1987 Tipperary 0-7 - 0-7 Galway Semple Stadium, Thurles
P Fox 0-2, P Delaney 0-1, P Fitzelle 0-1, P O'Neill 0-1, N English 0-1, C Stakelum 0-1.J Cooney 0-3, M McGrath 0-2, S Mahon 0-1, P Nolan 0-1.Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
8 November 1987 Limerick 1-10 - 2-2 Cork FitzGerald Park, Kilmallock
G Kirby 1-5, P Foley 0-2, B Finn 0-2, S Fitzgibbon 0-1.M Mullins 1-2, K Hennessy 1-0.Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)
15 November 1987 Kilkenny 2-7 - 1-8 Clare Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
L Ryan 1-1, M Phelan 1-0, T Leahy 0-3, C Heffernan 0-1, J Power 0-1, S Whearty 0-1.C Lyons 1-1, V Donnellan 0-4, M Meehan 0-2, T Guilfoyle 0-1.Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)
15 November 1987 Waterford 1-10 - 2-13 Wexford Walsh Park, Waterford
N Crowley 1-3, K Delahunty 0-6, S Ahearne 0-1.J Houlihan 1-6, S Wickham 1-1, P Carton 0-3, B Byrne 0-1, T Dempsey 0-1, J McDonald 0-1.Referee: P Long (Kilkenny)
15 November 1987 Galway 2-15 - 2-12 Limerick Duggan Park, Ballinasloe
M Connolly 0-6, E Ryan 1-1, PJ Molloy 1-0, A Cunningham 0-3, P Malone 0-2, S Mahon 0-1, C Hayes 0-1, S Linnane 0-1.G Kirby 0-7, P Creamer 1-0, T Kenny 1-0, P Foley 0-1, M Nelligan 0-1, M Reale 0-1, S Fitzgibbon 0-1, B Finn 0-1.Referee: G Long (Tipperary)
22 November 1987 Cork 0-8 - 2-10 Tipperary Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
M Mullins 0-3, G Fitzgerald 0-2, K Hennessy 0-1, J Tobin 0-1, T O'Sullivan 0-1.P Fox 0-6, N English 1-1, D O'Connell 1-0, D Ryan 0-1, C Bonnar 0-1, A Ryan 0-1.Referee: J Denton (Wexford)
29 November 1987 Kilkenny 3-12 - 1-14 Limerick Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
C Heffernan 1-1, L Fennelly 1-1, L Ryan 1-0, M Phelan 0-4, T Leahy 0-2, J Power 0-1, M Cleere 0-1, R Heffernan 0-1, R Power 0-1.G Kirby 0-7, T Kenny 1-1, G Ryan 0-3, M Nelligan 0-1, B Finn 0-1, R Sampson 0-1.Referee: J Denton (Wexford)
29 November 1987 Tipperary 0-18 - 1-8 Waterford Semple Stadium, Thurles
P Fox 0-9, N English 0-4, D Ryan 0-2, P Delaney 0-2, A Ryan 0-1.M Neville 1-1, K Delahunty 0-4, N Crowley 0-1, M Walsh 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1.Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)
29 November 1987 Galway 3-14 - 2-3 Clare Pearse Stadium, Salthill
J Cooney 1-6, A Cunningham 1-4, E Ryan 1-0, M Naughton 0-2, M McGrath 0-1, S Mahon 0-1.V Donnellan 2-2, T Guilfoyle 0-1.Referee: G Kirwan (Offaly)
29 November 1987 Wexford 1-10 - 2-6 Cork O'Kennedy Park, New Ross
J Houlihan 0-6, B Byrne 1-1, G O'Connor 0-1, M Morrissey 0-1, T Dempsey 0-1.M Mullins 1-3, K Kingston 1-1, T O'Sullivan 0-1, M Foley 0-1.Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)
6 December 1987 Galway 2-9 - 1-12 Cork Pearse Stadium, Salthill
PJ Molloy 1-1, A Cunningham 1-0, M Naughton 0-3, J Cooney 0-2, S Mahon 0-1, M McGrath 0-1, P Nolan 0-1.M Mullins 0-5, P Hartnett 0-4, M Barry 1-0, K Kingston 0-2, F Ramsay 0-1.Referee: K Walsh (Limerick)
21 February 1988 Cork 2-6 - 4-7 Kilkenny Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
K Hennessy 1-2, L Forde 1-0, M Mullins 0-3, P Hartnett 0-1.L Fennelly 2-1, M Phelan 1-2, C Heffernan 1-0, S Whearty 0-2, M Cleere 0-2.Referee: G Kirwan (Offaly)
21 February 1988 Waterford 4-10 - 3-10 Galway Fraher Field, Dungarvan
J McDonald 2-0, K Delahunty 0-6, S Ahearne 1-2, P Bennett 1-0, M Walsh 0-1, N Crowley 0-1.J Cooney 0-6, E Ryan 1-1, B Lynskey 1-1, J Commins 1-0, T Keady 0-1, M Naughton 0-1.Referee: P Long (Kilkenny)
21 February 1988 Limerick 1-8 - 0-16 Wexford Bruff Sportsfield, Bruff
G Ryan 1-2, G Kirby 0-3, B Finn 0-3.J Houlihan 0-7, M Storey 0-4, S Fitzhenry 0-4, B Byrne 0-1.Referee: W Horgan (Cork)
21 February 1988 Clare 1-11 - 6-11 Tipperary Cusack Park, Ennis
V Donnellan 0-7, G O'Loughlin 1-0, J O'Connell 0-2, T Guilfoyle 0-1, D Ryan 0-1.P Fox 2-6, N English 1-4, C Bonnar 1-1, D O'Connell 1-0, D Ryan 1-0.Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
6 March 1988 Limerick 1-9 - 2-9 Waterford FitzGerald Park, Kilmallock
G Kirby 1-4, B Finn 0-2, G Hegarty 0-1, T Kenny 0-1, G Ryan 0-1.K Delahunty 0-5, M Walsh 1-1, P Ryan 1-0, D Byrne 0-1, N Crowley 0-1, S Ahearne 0-1.Referee: G Ryan (Tipperary)
6 March 1988 Kilkenny 2-12 - 0-4 Tipperary Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
M Phelan 2-1, R Heffernan 0-4, M Cleere 0-2, S Fennelly 0-1, R Power 0-1, J Mulcahy 0-1, L Fennelly 0-1, J Brennan 0-1.P Fox 0-2, C Ryan 0-1, D O'Connell 0-1.Referee: T Murphy (Limerick)
6 March 1988 Wexford 2-9 - 0-15 Galway Wexford Park, Wexford
J Houlihan 2-4, S Fitzhenry 0-3, G O'Connor 0-1, J Conran 0-1.J Cooney 0-8, A Cunningham 0-3, M Connolly 0-2, E Ryan 0-2.Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary)
6 March 1988 Cork 3-15 - 4-13 Clare Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
M Barry 2-2, M Mullins 0-5, L Forde 1-1, T O'Sullivan 0-4, K Kingston 0-1, T McCarthy 0-1, L Kelly 0-1.V O'Loughlin 2-2, V Donnellan 0-6, T Guilfoyle 1-1, J Shanahan 1-0, M Guilfoyle 0-2, C Lyons 0-1, D Ryan 0-1.Referee: J Denton (Wexford)

Play-off

10 April 1988 Play-off Clare 2-7 - 1-11 Limerick Semple Stadium, Thurles
G McInerney 2-1, M Foyle 0-2, V Donnellan 0-2, D Ryan 0-1, D Chaplin 0-1.G Kirby 0-7, O O'Connor 1-0, L O'Connor 0-2, R Sampson 0-1, B Finn 0-1.

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals

20 March 1988 Quarter-final Galway 1-13 - 2-11 Offaly Croke Park, Dublin
M McGrath 0-4, B Lynskey 1-0, J Cooney 0-2, E Ryan 0-2, A Cunningham 0-2, T Keady 0-1, T Monaghan 0-1, PJ Molloy 0-1.M Corrigan 0-6, P Cleary 1-1, P Corrigan 1-0, D Owens 0-2, B Keeshan 0-1, S O'Donoghue 0-1.Referee: T Murray (Limerick)
20 March 1988 Quarter-final Antrim 2-9 - 2-20 Tipperary Croke Park, Dublin
D Donnelly 1-3, F McAllister 1-1, O McFetridge 0-3, D Armstrong 0-1, K Barr 0-1.N English 2-7, D Ryan 0-4, A Ryan 0-3, P Fox 0-2, B Ryan 0-2, P Delaney 0-1, J Hayes 0-1.Referee: P Long (Kilkenny)

Semi-finals

10 April 1988 Semi-final Waterford 1-8 - 4-19 Tipperary Croke Park, Dublin
K Delahunty 0-4, P Bennett 1-0, L O'Connor 0-1, S Aherne 0-1, P Ryan 0-1, B O'Sullivan 0-1.N English 2-11, P Fox 2-4, A Ryan 0-2, D O'Connell 0-1, P O'Neill 0-1.Referee: P Long (Kilkenny)
10 April 1988 Semi-final Wexford 3-11 - 2-16 Offaly Croke Park, Dublin
T Dempsey 2-2, J Holohan 0-5, B Byrne 1-0, S Fitzhenry 0-3, G O'Connor 0-1.M Corrigan 0-9, B Keeshan 1-3, J Dooley 1-1, P O'Connor 0-2, E Coughlan 0-1.Referee: T Murray (Limerick)

Final

24 April 1988 Final Offaly 2-9 - 3-15 Tipperary Croke Park, Dublin
M Corrigan 1-3, E Coughlan 1-1, B Keeshan 0-3, J Kelly 0-2.N English 1-3, P O'Neill 2-1, P Delaney 0-4, P Fox 0-3, J Hayes 0-1, C Bonnar 0-1, A Ryan 0-1, D O'Connell 0-1.Referee: J Denton (Wexford)

Scoring statistics

Top scorers overall
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Pat FoxTipperary6-4058105.80
2Nicky EnglishTipperary7-3354
3Jimmy HolohanWexford3-4453
4Val DonnellanClare3-415086.25
5Gary KirbyLimerick2-384485.50
6Kieran DelahuntyWaterford1-394285.25
7Joe CooneyGalway1-3538
8Mickey MullinsCork2-2127
9Tom DempseyWexford2-1420
Anthony CunninghamGalway2-1420
Top scorers in a single game
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalOpposition
1Nicky EnglishTipperary2-1117Waterford
2Nicky EnglishTipperary2-0713Antrim
3Pat FoxTipperary2-0612Clare
4Pat FoxTipperary2-0410Limerick
Jimmy HolohanWexford2-0410Galway
Pat FoxTipperary2-0410Waterford
Val DonnellanClare1-0710Limerick
8Kieran DelahuntyWaterford1-069Kilkenny
Jimmy HolohanWexford1-069Waterford
Joe CooneyGalway1-069Clare
Jimmy HolohanWexford0-099Kilkenny
Pat FoxTipperary0-099Waterford
Mark CorriganOffaly0-099Wexford

Division 2

National Hurling League Division 2
Season1987-88
ChampionsOffaly
PromotedAntrim
RelegatedDown
Roscommon
1986-87
1988-89
All statistics correct as of 24 February 2017.

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

PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes
1 Offaly (C)770014 Promoted to Division 1
2 Antrim 750210 Promoted to Division 1
3 Dublin 74038
4 Laois 74038
5 Kerry 73137
6 Westmeath 72145
7 Down 71244Relegated to Division 3
8 Roscommon 70070Relegated to Division 3

Division 3

National Hurling League Division 3
Season1987-88
ChampionsMeath
PromotedDerry
RelegatedTyrone
1986-87
1988-89
All statistics correct as of 25 February 2017.

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

PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes
1 Meath (C)770014 Promoted to Division 2
2 Derry760112 Promoted to Division 2
6 Kildare 750210
3 Carlow 750210
4 Mayo 73046
5 Armagh 73046
7 Wicklow73046
8 Tyrone70070 Relegated to Division 4

Division 4

National Hurling League Division 4
Season1987-88
ChampionsLongford
1986-87
1988-89
All statistics correct as of 25 February 2017.

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

22 June 1988 Semi-final Longford 2-11 - 2-6 Sligo Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick
26 June 1988 Semi-final Monaghan 7-17 - 6-11 Leitrim Breffni Park, Cavan

Finals

10 July 1988 Final Monaghan 3-15 - 5-9 Longford Breffni Park, Cavan
29 July 1988 Final replay Longford 2-9 - 2-7 Monaghan Breffni Park, Cavan

References