# 1965–66 National Hurling League

The 1965–66 National Hurling League was the 35th season of the National Hurling League.

## Division 1

Tipperary came into the season as defending champions of the 1964-65 season. Laois joined Division 1 as the promoted team.
On 18 September 1966, Kilkenny won the title after a 10-15 to 2-15 aggregate win over New York in the final. It was their 3rd league title overall and their first since 1961-62.
In spite of finishing at the bottom of their respective groups, neither Galway of Laois were relegated.
Tipperary's Jimmy Doyle was the Division 1 top scorer with 4-20.

### Division 1A table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | Notes |
| 1 | Tipperary | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 8 |
| 2 | Kilkenny | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | Division 1 champions |
| 3 | Wexford | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 | Waterford | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -17 | 2 |
| 5 | Laois | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -35 | 0 |

### Division 1B table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Diff | Pts |
| 1 | Cork | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 6 |
| 2 | Clare | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | Limerick | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 4 |
| 4 | Dublin | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 2 |
| 5 | Galway | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -39 | 2 |

### Knock-out stage

Semi-finals
Home final
Finals

### Scoring statistics
#### Top scorers overall

| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total |
| 1 | Jimmy Doyle | Tipperary | 4-20 | 32 |
| 2 | Michael Keating | Tipperary | 6-11 | 29 |
| 2 | Eddie Keher | Kilkenny | 3-20 | 29 |
| 3 | Tom Walsh | Kilkenny | 3-14 | 23 |
| 4 | Éamonn Cregan | Limerick | 3-11 | 20 |
| 5 | Mick O'Shea | Clare | 5-04 | 19 |
| 5 | Tom Cheasty | Waterford | 1-16 | 19 |
| 6 | Tom Corbett | Cork | 1-15 | 18 |
| 6 | Achille Boothman | Dublin | 1-15 | 18 |
| 7 | Claus Dunne | Kilkenny | 2-11 | 17 |

#### Top scorers in a single game

| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Jimmy Doyle | Tipperary | 2-05 | 11 | Waterford |
| 1 | Jack Conroy | Laois | 2-05 | 11 | Kilkenny |
| 1 | Eddie Keher | Kilkenny | 1-08 | 11 | Cork |
| 2 | Pat Carey | Limerick | 3-01 | 10 | Galway |
| 2 | Éamonn Cregan | Limerick | 2-04 | 10 | Clare |
| 2 | Eddie Keher | Kilkenny | 1-07 | 10 | Wexford |
| 3 | Seán McLoughlin | Tipperary | 3-00 | 9 | Waterford |
| 3 | Michael Keating | Tipperary | 3-00 | 9 | Laois |
| 3 | Paddy McNamara | Clare | 3-00 | 9 | Limerick |
| 3 | Mick O'Shea | Clare | 3-00 | 9 | Tipperary |

### Miscellaneous

* Kilkenny's defeat of Tipperary in the league decider is their first defeat of Tipperary in a national final since the 1922 All-Ireland final.

## Division 2

On 24 April 1966, Offaly won the title after a 4-11 to 3-9 win over Kerry in the final.

### Division 2A table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Diff | Pts |
| 1 | Antrim | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 6 |
| 2 | Westmeath | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | Roscommon | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
| 4 | Meath | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 3 |
| 5 | Down | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -45 | 0 |

### Division 2B table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Diff | Pts | Notes |
| 1 | Offaly | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 8 | Division 2 champions |
| 2 | Kerry | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | -7 | 6 |
| 3 | Kildare | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -10 | 4 |
| 4 | Carlow | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | Wicklow | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -31 | 0 |

### Knock-out stage

Semi-finals
Final

## Division 3

On 9 October 1966, Mayo won the title after a 1-12 to 1-8 win over Armagh in the final.

### Knock-out stage

Semi-final
Final