| Type: | Under-21 |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Dates: | 8 June 1988 - 11 September 1988 |
| Munster: | Cork |
| Leinster: | Kilkenny |
| Ulster: | Antrim |
| Team: | Cork |
| Titles: | 9th |
| Captain: | Christy Connery |
| Manager: | Joe McGrath |
| Team2: | Kilkenny |
| Captain2: | Frankie Morgan |
| Manager2: | Martin Fitzpatrick |
| Topscorer: | Dan O'Connell (6-03) |
| Previous: | 1987 |
| Next: | 1989 |
The 1988 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship was the 25th staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964. The championship began on 8 June 1988 and ended on 11 September 1988.
Limerick entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were beaten by Cork in the Munster final.
On 11 September 1988, Cork won the championship following a 4–11 to 1–05 defeat of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.[1] This was their ninth All-Ireland title overall and their first title since 1982.
Cork's Dan O'Connelll was the championship's top scorer with 6-03.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Semi-final
Final
Semi-finals
Final
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan O'Connell | Cork | 6-03 | 21 | 4 | 5.25 | |
| 2 | Mike Galligan | Limerick | 1-15 | 19 | 3 | 6.33 | |
| 3 | Leo O'Connor | Limerick | 2-11 | 17 | 3 | 5.66 | |
| John Feehan | Kilkenny | 2-11 | 17 | 4 | 4.25 | ||
| 4 | Frank Horgan | Cork | 2-10 | 16 | 5 | 3.33 | |
| 5 | John Fitzgibbon | Cork | 4-03 | 15 | 5 | 3.00 |