# 1986–87 National Hurling League

The 1986–87 National Hurling League (known as the Ford National Hurling League for sponsorship reasons) was the 56th season of the National Hurling League.

## Division 1

Kilkenny came into the season as defending champions of the 1985-86 season. Westmeath and Wexford entered Division 1 as the promoted teams.
On 3 May 1987, Galway won the title following a 3-12 to 3-10 win over Clare in the final. It was their first league title since 1974-75 and their 3rd National League title overall.
Offaly and Westmeath were relegated from Division 1.
Clare's Cyril Lyons was the Division 1 top scorer with 4-51.

### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
| 1 | Clare | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | Division 1 Runners-Up |
| 2 | Galway | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | Division 1 Champions |
| 3 | Cork | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 | Limerick | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 5 | Kilkenny | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Wexford | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | Westmeath | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Relegated to Division 2 |
| 8 | Offaly | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | Relegated to Division 2 |

### Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final

### Scoring statistics
#### Top scorer overall

| Rank | Player | Team | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Cyril Lyons | Clare | 4-51 | 63 | 9 | 7.00 |
| 2 | Joe Cooney | Galway | 4-43 | 55 | | |
| 3 | Jimmy Holohan | Wexford | 2-37 | 43 | | |
| 4 | David Kilcoyne | Westmeath | 5-24 | 39 | | |
| 4 | Joe Dooley | Offaly | 2-33 | 39 | 7 | |
| 6 | Terence Kenny | Limerick | 5-12 | 27 | | |
| 7 | Gary Kirby | Limerick | 5-09 | 24 | | |
| 8 | Tomás Mulcahy | Cork | 7-02 | 23 | | |
| 8 | Mark Foley | Cork | 6-05 | 23 | | |
| 10 | Anthony Cunningham | Galway | 5-07 | 22 | | |

#### Top scorers in a single game

| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Jimmy Holohan | Wexford | 1-10 | 13 | Clare |
| 2 | Anthony Cunningham | Galway | 3-03 | 12 | Waterford |
| 2 | Joe Cooney | Galway | 2-06 | 12 | Clare |
| 2 | Cyril Lyons | Clare | 1-09 | 12 | Westmeath |
| 5 | Jimmy Holohan | Wexford | 0-11 | 11 | Westmeath |
| 6 | Éanna Ryan | Galway | 3-01 | 10 | Clare |
| 6 | Cyril Lyons | Clare | 2-04 | 10 | Kilkenny |
| 6 | Joe Cooney | Galway | 1-07 | 10 | Cork |
| 6 | David Kilcoyne | Westmeath | 1-07 | 10 | Galway |
| 6 | Joe Cooney | Galway | 1-07 | 10 | Waterford |

## Division 2

Dublin, Laois, Mayo and Waterford entered Division 2 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
On 1 March 1987, Tipperary secured the title following a 5-18 to 0-2 win over Mayo in the final round of the group stage. Waterford secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.
Mayo and Meath were relegated from Division 2.

### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
| 1 | Tipperary (C) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | Promoted to Division 1 |
| 2 | Waterford | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | Promoted to Division 1 |
| 3 | Antrim | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | Dublin | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Laois | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | Kerry | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | Mayo | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | Relegated to Division 3 |
| 7 | Meath | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | Relegated to Division 3 |

## Division 3

Down, Monaghan and Roscommon entered Division 3 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
On 1 March 1987, Down secured the title following a 3-18 to 0-6 win over Kildare in the final round of the group stage. Roscommon secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.
Monaghan were relegated from Division 2.

### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
| 1 | Down (C) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | Promoted to Division 2 |
| 2 | Roscommon | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | Promoted to Division 2 |
| 3 | Carlow | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | |
| 4 | Derry | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | |
| 5 | Armagh | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | |
| 6 | Kildare | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |
| 7 | Wicklow | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |
| 8 | Monaghan | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | Relegated to Division 4 |