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 Cork.
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 tableGroup stageDivision 1B tableGroup stageKnock-out stagePlay-offsQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal ==League statistics==
League statistics
Top scorers ;Top scorers overall ;Top scorers in a single game Miscellaneous • Waterford qualified for the semi-final stage of the league for the first time since the 1962-63 league. ==Division 2==