The 1980–81 National Hurling League was the 50th season of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams. It was won by .
Division 1 Structure
The National Hurling League's top division was divided into two groups - 1A and 1B. The top two teams in Division 1A advance to the semi-finals. The third- and fourth-placed teams in 1A, as well as the top two from 1B, play in the quarter-finals.
Division 1A table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Cork 651011 Division 1 champions2 Offaly 64119 Division 1 runners-up3 Tipperary 622264 Waterford 621355 Galway 621356 Wexford 62135 Relegated to Division 1B7 Limerick 60151 Relegated to Division 1B
Group stage
Division 1B table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Clare 650111 Promoted to Division 1A2 Laois 650111Promoted to Division 1A3 Kilkenny 641194 Westmeath 621355 Dublin 621356 Antrim 610527 Kerry 60151
Group stage
Knock-out stage
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
League statistics Top scorers
Top scorers overall
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Ned BuggyWexford5-264166.832Séamus BourkeTipperary7-194075.713Éamonn CreganLimerick6-173557.004Tom CaseyWaterford3-253465.665Pádraig HoranOffaly4-213384.12
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Séamus BourkeTipperary3-0413Galway2Tom CaseyWaterford1-0912Limerick3Éamonn CreganLimerick2-0511Wexford4John StoneTipperary3-0110WaterfordNed BuggyWexford1-0710Tipperary6Joe McKennaLimerick2-039OffalyPat FoxTipperary2-039LaoisSéamus BourkeTipperary2-039WexfordNed BuggyWexford1-069GalwayTom CaseyWaterford1-069ClarePat MoreyClare0-099Westmeath
Miscellaneous
Waterford qualified for the semi-final stage of the league for the first time since the 1962-63 league.
Division 2 Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Carlow 650110 Division 2 champions2 Down 640283 Kildare 640284 Roscommon 630365 Wicklow 620446 Meath 620447 Armagh 62044
References