The 1985–86 National Hurling League (known as the Ford National Hurling League for sponsorship reasons) was the 55th season of the National Hurling League.
Division 1
Limerick came into the season as defending champions of the 1984-85 season. Clare and Dublin entered Division 1 as the promoted teams.
On 11 May 1986, Kilkenny won the title following a 3-11 to 2-5 win over Galway in the final. It was their first league title since 1982-83 and their 7th National League title overall.
Dublin and Laois were relegated from Division 1.
Kilkenny's Ger Fennelly was the Division 1 top scorer with 1-47.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Cork 7502122 Galway 750212 National Hurling League runner-up3 Kilkenny74129 National Hurling League champions4 Limerick 740385 Clare 730466 Offaly 730467 Dublin72145 Relegated to Division 28 Laois71062 Relegated to Division 2
Group stage
Knock-out stage
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Scoring statistics
Rank Player Team Tally Total Matches Average1Ger FennellyKilkenny1-4750105.002Paddy KellyLimerick0-434385.373Tony O'SullivanCork0-393984.874P. J. MolloyGalway0-3535103.505Val DonnellanGalway0-282874.006Paddy CorriganOffaly2-212755.40Joe CooneyGalway2-2127102.70Cyril LyonsClare1-242773.859Liam FennellyKilkenny7-0122102.20Seán McDermottDublin2-162245.50
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition1Seán McDermottDublin2-0713Laois2Val DonnellanClare0-1212Limerick3Paddy CorriganOffaly1-0811Clare4Ger FennellyKilkenny1-0710GalwayTony O'SullivanCork0-1010ClarePaddy KellyLimerick0-1010Kilkenny7Cyril LyonsClare1-069LaoisP. J. MolloyGalway0-099DublinTony O'SullivanCork0-099Galway10John HolohanWexford1-058LimerickGer FennellyKilkenny0-088Offaly
Division 2
Down, Meath, Tipperary and Wexford entered Division 2 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
On 9 March 1986, Wexford secured the title following a 3-15 to 1-5 win over Kerry in the final round of the group stage. Westmeath secured promotion to Division 1 as the second-placed team.
Down and Roscommon were relegated from Division 2.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Wexford (C)761013 Promoted to Division 12 Westmeath760112 Promoted to Division 13 Tipperary 7502104 Antrim 741295 Kerry 730466 Meath 720547 Roscommon70161 Relegated to Division 38 Down70161 Relegated to Division 3
Group stage
Division 3
Kildare, Louth and Waterford entered Division 3 as the promoted and relegated teams from the previous season.
On 9 March 1986, Mayo secured the title following a 0-12 to 0-8 win over Armagh in the final round of the group stage. Waterford secured promotion to Division 2 as the second-placed team.
Louth were relegated from Division 3.
Table
PosTeamPldWDLPtsNotes1 Mayo (C)760112 Promoted to Division 22 Waterford760112 Promoted to Division 23 Armagh 741294 Wicklow 730465 Carlow 730466 Derry 721457 Kildare720548 Louth71062 Relegated to Division 4
Division Four
Knock-out stage
References