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
Dates	11 October 1987 – 29 July 1988
League champions
Winners	Tipperary (15th win)
Other division winners
Division 2	Offaly
Division 3	Meath
Division 4	Longford
← 1986–87 1988–89 →

Division 1

National Hurling League Division 1

Season	1987-88
Champions	Tipperary 15th National League title Captain: Pat O'Neill Manager: Michael Keating
Relegated	Clare Cork
Matches played	34
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

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Diff	Pts	Notes
1	Wexford	7	5	1	1	23	11
2	Waterford	7	5	0	2	15	10
3	Tipperary	7	4	1	2	20	9	Division 1 champions
4	Galway	7	3	3	1	15	9
5	Kilkenny	7	4	0	3	14	8
6	Limerick	7	2	0	5	-19	4
7	Clare	7	2	0	5	-37	4	Relegated to Division 2
8	Cork	7	0	1	6	-31	1	Relegated to Division 2

Group stage

Tipperary v Limerick

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)

Clare v Wexford

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)

Waterford v Kilkenny

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)

Kilkenny v Galway

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.

Wexford v Tipperary

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.

Limerick v Clare

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.

Cork v Waterford

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)

Clare v Waterford

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)

Wexford v 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)

Tipperary v Galway

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)

Limerick v Cork

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)

Kilkenny v Clare

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)

Waterford v Wexford

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)

Galway v Limerick

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)

Cork v 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)

Kilkenny v Limerick

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)

Tipperary v Waterford

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)

Galway v Clare

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)

Wexford v Cork

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)

Galway v Cork

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)

Cork v Kilkenny

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)

Waterford v Galway

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)

Limerick v Wexford

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)

Clare v Tipperary

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)

Limerick v Waterford

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)

Kilkenny v 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)

Wexford v Galway

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)

Cork v Clare

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

Clare v Limerick

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

Galway v Offaly

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)

Antrim v Tipperary

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

Waterford v Tipperary

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)

Wexford v Offaly

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

Offaly v Tipperary

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.	Highlights	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

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Pat Fox	Tipperary	6-40	58	10	5.80
2	Nicky English	Tipperary	7-33	54
3	Jimmy Holohan	Wexford	3-44	53
4	Val Donnellan	Clare	3-41	50	8	6.25
5	Gary Kirby	Limerick	2-38	44	8	5.50
6	Kieran Delahunty	Waterford	1-39	42	8	5.25
7	Joe Cooney	Galway	1-35	38
8	Mickey Mullins	Cork	2-21	27
9	Tom Dempsey	Wexford	2-14	20
	Anthony Cunningham	Galway	2-14	20

Top scorers in a single game

Rank	Player	Team	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Nicky English	Tipperary	2-11	17	Waterford
2	Nicky English	Tipperary	2-07	13	Antrim
3	Pat Fox	Tipperary	2-06	12	Clare
4	Pat Fox	Tipperary	2-04	10	Limerick
	Jimmy Holohan	Wexford	2-04	10	Galway
	Pat Fox	Tipperary	2-04	10	Waterford
	Val Donnellan	Clare	1-07	10	Limerick
8	Kieran Delahunty	Waterford	1-06	9	Kilkenny
	Jimmy Holohan	Wexford	1-06	9	Waterford
	Joe Cooney	Galway	1-06	9	Clare
	Jimmy Holohan	Wexford	0-09	9	Kilkenny
	Pat Fox	Tipperary	0-09	9	Waterford
	Mark Corrigan	Offaly	0-09	9	Wexford

Division 2

National Hurling League Division 2

Season	1987-88
Champions	Offaly
Promoted	Antrim
Relegated	Down 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

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Offaly (C)	7	7	0	0	14	Promoted to Division 1
2	Antrim	7	5	0	2	10	Promoted to Division 1
3	Dublin	7	4	0	3	8
4	Laois	7	4	0	3	8
5	Kerry	7	3	1	3	7
6	Westmeath	7	2	1	4	5
7	Down	7	1	2	4	4	Relegated to Division 3
8	Roscommon	7	0	0	7	0	Relegated to Division 3

Division 3

National Hurling League Division 3

Season	1987-88
Champions	Meath
Promoted	Derry
Relegated	Tyrone
← 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

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts	Notes
1	Meath (C)	7	7	0	0	14	Promoted to Division 2
2	Derry	7	6	0	1	12	Promoted to Division 2
6	Kildare	7	5	0	2	10
3	Carlow	7	5	0	2	10
4	Mayo	7	3	0	4	6
5	Armagh	7	3	0	4	6
7	Wicklow	7	3	0	4	6
8	Tyrone	7	0	0	7	0	Relegated to Division 4

Division 4

National Hurling League Division 4

Season	1987-88
Champions	Longford
← 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

Longford v Sligo

22 June 1988 Semi-final

Longford

2-11 - 2-6

Sligo

Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick

Monaghan v Leitrim

26 June 1988 Semi-final

Monaghan

7-17 - 6-11

Leitrim

Breffni Park, Cavan

Finals

Monaghan v Longford

10 July 1988 Final

Monaghan

3-15 - 5-9

Longford

Breffni Park, Cavan

Longford v Monaghan

29 July 1988 Final replay

Longford

2-9 - 2-7

Monaghan

Breffni Park, Cavan

External links

• 1987-88 National Hurling League results