The 1981 Cork Senior Football Championship was the 93rd staging of the Cork Senior Football Championship since its establishment by the Cork County Board in 1887. The championship began on 26 April 1981 and ended on 4 October 1981.
St. Finbarr's entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Nemo Rangers at the semi-final stage.
On 4 October 1981, Nemo Rangers won the championship following a 3-11 to 0-06 defeat of Bantry Blues in the final. This was their sixth championship title overall and their first title since 1978.
Pat O'Driscoll was the championship's top scorer with 2-31.
Format change
At the County Convention on 25 January 1981, it was decided to introduce a new graded draw with divisional, rural and city clubs all being grouped individually. The winners of the first two groupings progressed to one semi-final, with two of the city teams qualifying for the other semi-final. The new format was introduced to guarantee a city-county pairing in the final.
Results Divisional section
Rural section
City section
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Championship statistics Top scorers
Overall
Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average1Pat O'DriscollBantry Blues2-313784.622Dinny AllenNemo Rangers0-181844.503Ephie FitzgeraldNemo Rangers3-071644.004Declan BarronBantry Blues4-031581.875Donal HuntBantry Blues3-051481.75
In a single game
Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition1Pat O'DriscollBantry Blues1-0811Millstreet2Martin DorneyAvondhu3-009CarrigdhounJamesie O'CallaghanSt. Finbarr's2-039Na PiarsaighDanny BuckleySt. Michael's0-099St. Finbarr's5Dinny AllenNemo Rangers2-028St. Finbarr's6Ephie FitzgeraldNemo Rangers2-017Bantry Blues7Declan BarronBantry Blues2-006AdrigoleDenis NolanCastlehaven2-006GlanworthDonal HuntBantry Blues2-006MillstreetFinny O'MahonySt. Finbarr's2-006Nemo RangersBrendan TerryCastlehaven1-036Bantry BluesMartin ConnollyCarbery1-036ImokillyBrian QuinlanGlanworth1-036CastlehavenTadhg O'ReillyBishopstown0-066St. Michael'sJohn ClearyCastlehaven0-066Bantry BluesPat O'DriscollBantry Blues0-066Castlehaven
Miscellaneous
Bantry Blues qualify for the final for the first time since 1909.
References