1986–87 National Hurling League


The 1986–87 National Hurling League was the 56th season of the National Hurling League.

Division 1

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

PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes
1 Clare 760112Division 1 runners-up
2 Galway751111Division 1 champions
3 Cork 750210-
4 Limerick 74038-
5 Kilkenny 73046-
6 Wexford 71244-
7 Westmeath72054Relegated to Division 2
8 Offaly70161Relegated to Division 2

Group stage

Knock-out stage

Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final

Scoring statistics

;Top scorer overall
RankPlayerTeamTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Cyril LyonsClare4-516397.00
2Joe CooneyGalway4-4355
3Jimmy HolohanWexford2-3743
4David KilcoyneWestmeath5-2439
4Joe DooleyOffaly2-33397
6Terence KennyLimerick5-1227
7Gary KirbyLimerick5-0924
8Tomás MulcahyCork7-0223
8Mark FoleyCork6-0523
10Anthony CunninghamGalway5-0722

;Top scorers in a single game
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalOpposition
1Jimmy HolohanWexford1-1013Clare
2Anthony CunninghamGalway3-0312Waterford
2Joe CooneyGalway2-0612Clare
2Cyril LyonsClare1-0912Westmeath
5Jimmy HolohanWexford0-1111Westmeath
6Éanna RyanGalway3-0110Clare
6Cyril LyonsClare2-0410Kilkenny
6Joe CooneyGalway1-0710Cork
6David KilcoyneWestmeath1-0710Galway
6Joe CooneyGalway1-0710Waterford

Division 2

, 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

PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes
1 Tipperary 760112Promoted to Division 1
2 Waterford751111Promoted to Division 1
3 Antrim 74129-
4 Dublin 73228-
5 Laois 73228-
6 Kerry 72054-
7 Mayo71062Relegated to Division 3
7 Meath71062Relegated to Division 3

Division 3

, 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

PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes
1 Down 760112Promoted to Division 2
2 Roscommon750210Promoted to Division 2
3 Carlow 750210
4 Derry 750210
5 Armagh 73046
6 Kildare 72054
7 Wicklow72054-
8 Monaghan70070Relegated to Division 4

Division Four

Knock-out stage