The 1981 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 95th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament. The draw for the 1981 fixtures took place in September 1980. The championship began on 24 May 1981 and ended on 6 September 1981.
Galway were the defending champions but were defeated by Offaly in the final. Westmeath re-entered the Leinster Championship after a three-year absence.
On 6 September 1981, Offaly won the championship following a 2–12 to 0–15 defeat of Galway in the All-Ireland final. This was their first All-Ireland title ever.
Limerick's Joe McKenna was the championship's top scorer with 7–12. Offaly's Pat Delaney was the choice for Texaco Hurler of the Year.
Team changes
To Championship Promoted from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
Antrim Westmeath
From Championship Relegated to the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
Kildare
Teams
General information Thirteen counties will compete in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: one team from the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, six teams in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, five teams in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and one team from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship. CountyLast provincial titleLast championship titlePosition in 1980 ChampionshipCurrent championship Antrim1946—All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship Clare19321914Munster Senior Hurling Championship Cork19791978Munster Senior Hurling Championship Dublin19611938Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Galway19221980Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny19791979Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Laois19491915Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Limerick19801973Munster Senior Hurling Championship Offaly1980—Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Tipperary19711971Munster Senior Hurling Championship Waterford19631959Munster Senior Hurling Championship Westmeath——Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Wexford19771968Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Provincial championships Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Quarter-final
Semi-finals
Final
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
All-Ireland quarter-finals
All-Ireland semi-finals
All-Ireland Final
Scoring statistics
Top scorers overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1Joe McKennaLimerick7–123356.602Joe ConnollyGalway3–213047.503Éamonn CreganLimerick2–182454.804Pádraig HoranOffaly4-071936.335Noel LaneGalway1–121543.756John GroganTipperary2–081427.007Bernie FordeGalway2–061243.00Tony DoranWexford2–061234.009George O'ConnorWexford1-081133.66Declan CooteClare1-081133.66
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1Joe ConnollyGalway2–0713Limerick2Joe McKennaLimerick3–0312ClareJohn GroganTipperary2–0612Limerick4Bernie FordeGalway2–0511Antrim5Joe McKennaLimerick3–0110Tipperary6Billy BohaneLaois2–039OffalyPádraig HoranOffaly2–039WexfordSéamus BourkeTipperary2–039LimerickNoel LaneGalway1–069AntrimMartin BrophyLaois0–099Westmeath
Broadcasting
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.
Round RTÉ All-Ireland semi-finalLimerick vs Galway All-Ireland finalOffaly vs Galway
Sources
Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005). Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).
References