# 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.

## 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

| 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 |

### Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final

### 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 | | |
| 9 | 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 |
| 4 | Jimmy Holohan | Wexford | 2-04 | 10 | Galway |
| 4 | Pat Fox | Tipperary | 2-04 | 10 | Waterford |
| 4 | Val Donnellan | Clare | 1-07 | 10 | Limerick |
| 8 | Kieran Delahunty | Waterford | 1-06 | 9 | Kilkenny |
| 8 | Jimmy Holohan | Wexford | 1-06 | 9 | Waterford |
| 8 | Joe Cooney | Galway | 1-06 | 9 | Clare |
| 8 | Jimmy Holohan | Wexford | 0-09 | 9 | Kilkenny |
| 8 | Pat Fox | Tipperary | 0-09 | 9 | Waterford |
| 8 | Mark Corrigan | Offaly | 0-09 | 9 | Wexford |

## 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

| 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

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

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