1981 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship

The normal system of 2 Quarter-final's and 2 Semi-final's is back.

Quarter-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 30 May 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|London|football}}

| score = 1-4 – 3-11

| team2 = {{GG|Mayo|football}}

| goals1 = P Maher 1-3, J Keoghan 0-1.

| goals2 = M Carney 1-2, J Burke 1-2, J McGrath 1-0, E McHale 0-3, J Lyons 0-2, J Maughan 0-2.

| stadium = Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip

| referee = T Cunningham (Galway)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 7 June 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Galway|football}}

| score = 2-16 – 0-6

| team2 = {{GG|Leitrim|football}}

| goals1 = G McManus 0-11, TJ Gilmore 1-2, S Joyce 1-0, B Brennan 0-2, T Naughton 0-1.

| goals2 = F Smith 0-2, J Ward 0-1, M Quinn 0-1, J Logan 0-1, S Tighe 0-1.

| stadium = Tuam Stadium, Tuam

| referee = PJ McGrath (Mayo)

| attendance =

}}

Semi-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 14 June 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Sligo|football}}

| score = 2-9 – 1-8

| team2 = {{GG|Roscommon|football}}

| goals1 = J Kearins 2-1, J Kent 0-3, M Hoey 0-3, PJ Kavanagh 0-1, J Stenson 0-1.

| goals2 = D Earley 1-3, L Dolphin 0-2, J O'Gara 0-1, T McManus 0-1, T Donlon 0-1.

| stadium = Markievicz Park, Sligo

| referee = P Egan (Leitrim)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 21 June 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Mayo|football}}

| score = 2-8 – 1-9

| team2 = {{GG|Galway|football}}

| goals1 = J Bourke 1-1, J Lyons 1-0, M Carney 0-3, G Feeney 0-1, T Reilly 0-1, J McGrath 0-1, J Maughan 0-1.

| goals2 = S Joyce 1-1, V Daly 0-2, G McManus 0-2, B Brennan 0-1, B Talty 0-1, B Joyce 0-1, TJ Gilmore 0-1.

| stadium = McHale Park, Castlebar

| referee = T. Moran (Leitrim)

| attendance = 20,000

}}

Final

{{football box collapsible

| date = 12 July 1981

| round = Final

| team1 = {{GG|Mayo|football}}

| score = 0-12 – 0-4

| team2 = {{GG|Sligo|football}}

| goals1 = M Carney 0-5, WJ padden 0-2, J Maughan 0-1, J Bourke 0-1, J McGrath 0-1, T O'Malley 0-1, M O'Toole 0-1.

| goals2 = John Kent 0-2, P Henry 0-1, E McHale 0-1.

| stadium = McHale Park, Castlebar

| referee = T Cunningham (Galway)

| attendance =

}}

First round

{{football box collapsible

| date = 10 May 1981

| round = First round

| team1 = {{GG|Longford|football}}

| score = 1-10 – 3-10

| team2 = {{GG|Westmeath|football}}

| goals1 = B Smith 0-5, M Casey 1-0, T Sheridan 0-3, J McCormack 0-1, L Tierney 0-1.

| goals2 = W Lowry 0-4, E Coughlan 1-0, S Hannratty 1-0, M Behan 1-0, T McCormack 0-3, F Tone 0-2, E Tynan 0-1.

| stadium = Pearse Park, Longford

| referee = P Kavanagh (Meath)

| attendance = 3,000

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 10 May 1981

| round = First round

| team1 = {{GG|Kilkenny|football}}

| score = 2-4 – 2-11

| team2 = {{GG|Wexford|football}}

| goals1 = S Fennelly 1-1, P Lannon 1-1, J O'Donnell 0-1, J Walsh 0-1.

| goals2 = G Howlin 2-0, E Mann 0-6, T Wright 0-3, G Byrne 0-1, J Wright 0-1.

| stadium = Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

| referee = C Lally (Laois)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 10 May 1981

| round = First round

| team1 = {{GG|Wicklow|football}}

| score = 3-11 – 1-8

| team2 = {{GG|Carlow|football}}

| goals1 = T Murphy 1-3, J Lynch 1-3, D Foley 1-0, P Burke 0-3, P O'Byrne 0-1, P Baker 0-1.

| goals2 = W Cullen 1-3, N Bambrick 0-2, D O'Connor 0-1, C Ware 0-1, M Doyle 0-1.

| stadium = Geraldine Park, Athy

| referee = S Aldridge (Kildare)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 17 May 1981

| round = First round

| team1 = {{GG|Laois|football}}

| score = 5-8 – 3-8

| team2 = {{GG|Louth|football}}

| goals1 = E Whelan 2-2, W Brennan 1-4, D O'Loughlin 1-2, T Prendergast 1-0.

| goals2 = K Dawe 2-4, M McDermott 1-1, E Judge 0-1, G O'Callaghan 0-1, Jim McDonnell 0-1.

| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

| referee = A Jordan (Dublin)

| attendance = 3,755

}}

Quarter-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 31 May 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Dublin|football}}

| score = 0-10 – 0-8

| team2 = {{GG|Wicklow|football}}

| goals1 = J McCarthy 0-4, A McCaul 0-4, K Duff 0-1, PJ Buckley 0-1.

| goals2 = P Baker 0-3, P O'Byrne 0-2, T Murphy 0-2, J Lynch 0-1.

| stadium = St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge

| referee = J Gunning (Offaly)

| attendance = 11,000

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 31 May 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Westmeath|football}}

| score = 1-9 – 1-14

| team2 = {{GG|Offaly|football}}

| goals1 = F Tone 1-4, S Hannratty 0-1, T Collins 0-1, E Tynan 0-1, W Lowry 0-1.

| goals2 = M Connor 0-9, B Lowry 1-2, S Lowry 0-1, J Moran 0-1, M Wright 0-1.

| stadium = Cusack Park, Mullingar

| referee = K Campbell (Meath)

| attendance = 7000

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 7 June 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Wexford|football}}

| score = 2-9 – 1-11

| team2 = {{GG|Meath|football}}

| goals1 = E Mahon 0-6, J Wright 1-0, G Howlin 1-0, G O'Connor 0-3.

| goals2 = E Barry 0-6, L Smith 1-1, C O'Rourke 0-3, F O'Sullivan 0-1.

| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

| referee = D Guerin (Dublin)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 14 June 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Laois|football}}

| score = 3-13 – 1-9

| team2 = {{GG|Kildare|football}}

| goals1 = T Prendergast 3-3, W Brennan 0-5, E Whelan 0-3, M Moore 0-2.

| goals2 = G Power 1-4, T Shaw 0-2, L Tompkins 0-2, M Condon 0-1.

| stadium = O'Connor Park, Tullamore

| referee = P Collins (Westmeath)

| attendance =

}}

Semi-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 28 June 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Offaly|football}}

| score = 1-16 – 0-14

| team2 = {{GG|Wexford|football}}

| goals1 = M Connor 1-5, B Lowry 0-4, G Carroll 0-3, J Mooney 0-2, M Wright 0-1, T Connor 0-1.

| goals2 = E Mahon 0-8, G Howlin 0-2, G O'Connor 0-2, G Byrne 0-1, S Fitzhenry 0-1.

| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

| referee = C Lally (Laois)

| attendance = 7,000

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 5 July 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Dublin|football}}

| score = 0-11 – 2-9

| team2 = {{GG|Laois|football}}

| goals1 = A McCaul 0-8, J Thompson 0-2, J Ronayne 0-1.

| goals2 = T Prendergast 1-1, J Costello 1-0, W Brennan 0-3, E Whelan 0-2, D O'Loughlin 0-1, G Brown 0-1, M Moore 0-1.

| stadium = O'Connor Park, Tullamore

| referee = P Kavanagh (Meath)

| attendance = 25,000

}}

Final

{{football box collapsible

| date = 26 July 1981

| round = Final

| team1 = {{GG|Offaly|football}}

| score = 1-18 – 3-9

| team2 = {{GG|Laois|football}}

| goals1 = Brendan Lowry 1-4, Matt Connor 0-5 (0-3f), Tomas O'Connor, Pat Fitzgerald, Gerry Carroll, Sean Lowry 0-2 each, Aidan O'Halloran 0-1

| goals2 = Willie Brennan 1-3 (0-2f), Mick Moore 1-2, Tom Prendergast 1-1, John Costello, Eamon Whelan, Declan O'Loughlin 0-1 each

| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

| referee = Paddy Collins (Westmeath)

| attendance = 28,398

}}

Quarter-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 31 May 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Tipperary|football}}

| score = 0-9 – 3-14

| team2 = {{GG|Clare|football}}

| goals1 = B Kennedy 0-2, B Conway 0-2, M O'Riordan 0-2, H Mulhaire 0-1, G McGrath 0-1, J Dunne 0-1.

| goals2 = G Fitzpatrick 1-4, T Tubridy 1-4, M O'Reilly 1-2, P Burke 0-2, N Normoyle 0-1, M Murray 0-1.

| stadium = Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

| referee = W Fogarty (Kerry)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 31 May 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Limerick|football}}

| score = 0-10 – 0-10

| team2 = {{GG|Waterford|football}}

| goals1 = A Moran 0-3, K Hanley 0-2, T Cummins 0-2, M Quish 0-1, F Ryan 0-1, D Fitzgerald 0-1.

| goals2 = P White 0-4, M Horgan 0-2, R Dunford 0-1, M Hackett 0-1, T Keating 0-1, J Power 0-1.

| stadium = Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

| referee =

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 14 June 1981

| round = Quarter-final replay

| team1 = {{GG|Waterford|football}}

| score = 0-10 – 1-4

| team2 = {{GG|Limerick|football}}

| goals1 = T Casey 0-5, P White 0-3, J Kelly 0-1, T Keating 0-1.

| goals2 = T Cummins 1-0, A Moran 0-2, D Kiely 0-1, K Hanley 0-1.

| stadium = Fraher Field, Dungarvan

| referee = M Griffin (Clare)

| attendance =

}}

Semi-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 28 June 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Kerry|football}}

| score = 4-17 – 0-6

| team2 = {{GG|Clare|football}}

| goals1 = E Liston 3-3, M Sheehy 0-6, J Egan 1-1, P Spillane 0-3, P Ó Sé 0-1, J O'Shea 0-1, T Spillane 0-1, O Moran 0-1.

| goals2 = G Fitzpatrick 0-2, P McNamara 0-2, N Roche 0-1, J McGrath 0-1.

| stadium = Frank Sheehy Park, Listowel

| referee = P Lane (Limerick)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 28 June 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Waterford|football}}

| score = 0-7 – 2-18

| team2 = {{GG|Cork|football}}

| goals1 = P White 0-3, M Kavanagh 0-2, T Casey 0-2.

| goals2 = D Allen 0-7, J Allen 1-2, D Barron 1-0, T Dalton 0-3, F O'Mahony 0-2, C Ryan 0-1, B Lotty 0-1, D Barry 0-1, S Hayes 0-1.

| stadium = Fraher Field, Dungarvan

| referee = W Fogarty (Kerry)

| attendance =

}}

Final

{{football box collapsible

| date = 19 July 1981

| round = Final

| team1 = {{GG|Kerry|football}}

| score = 1-11 – 0-3

| team2 = {{GG|Cork|football}}

| goals1 = Mikey Sheehy 1-5 (0-2f), Pat Spillane 0-3, Jack O'Shea, Eoin Liston, John Egan 0-1 each

| goals2 = Tom Creedon (0-1f), Dave Barry, Dinny Allen (0-1f) 0-1 each

| stadium = Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney

| referee = Paddy Collins (Westmeath)

| attendance = 41,292

}}

Preliminary round

{{football box collapsible

| date = 17 May 1981

| round = Preliminary round

| team1 = {{GG|Monaghan|football}}

| score = 2-9 – 0-6

| team2 = {{GG|Tyrone|football}}

| goals1 = E McEneaney 1-7, S McAleer 1-1, K Treanor 0-1.

| goals2 = B Donnelly 0-2, P Ball 0-2, J Devlin 0-1, E McKenna 0-1.

| stadium = St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney

| referee = S McManus (Fermanagh)

| attendance =

}}

Quarter-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 24 May 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Antrim|football}}

| score = 2-13 – 2-12

| team2 = {{GG|Cavan|football}}

| goals1 = J Herron 1-4, K Gough 1-1, A McQuillan 0-4, D Maguire 0-3, S McGourdy 0-1.

| goals2 = D Donohoe 2-5, M Reilly 0-1, C O'Keeffe 0-1, M Faulkner 0-1.

| stadium = Casement Park, Belfast

| referee = S Murray (Monaghan)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 31 May 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Armagh|football}}

| score = 2-16 – 0-13

| team2 = {{GG|Donegal|football}}

| goals1 = B Hughes 1-1, N Marley 1-1, P Loughran 0-3, J Kernan 0-2, P Rafferty 0-2, J Loughran 0-2, C McKinstry 0-1, J Donnelly 0-1.

| goals2 = M McHugh 0-4, S Reilly 0-3, S Bonnar 0-2, M Gallagher 0-1, C Mulgrew 0-1, S Flynn 0-1, M Carr 0-1.

| stadium = Athletic Grounds, Armagh

| referee = J Heaney (Tyrone)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 7 June 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Derry|football}}

| score = 0-12 – 0-10

| team2 = {{GG|Fermanagh|football}}

| goals1 = B Kelly 0-4, M Feeley 0-4, J McGrourty 0-2, T Doherty 0-1, J McAree 0-1.

| goals2 = P McGinnitty 0-4, G McEvoy 0-3, E McPartland 0-1, P Connolly 0-1, P Courtney 0-1.

| stadium = Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen

| referee = S Gallagher (Donegal)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 14 June 1981

| round = Quarter-final

| team1 = {{GG|Down|football}}

| score = 0-10 – 0-10

| team2 = {{GG|Monaghan|football}}

| goals1 = B McGovern 0-7, N Toner 0-1, L Austin 0-1, D Morgan 0-1.

| goals2 = E McEneaney 0-6, S McAleer 0-2, D Mulligan 0-1, T Moyna 0-1.

| stadium = Pairc Esler, Newry

| referee = J Gough (Antrim)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 28 June 1981

| round = Quarter-final replay

| team1 = {{GG|Monaghan|football}}

| score = 1-9 – 3-4

| team2 = {{GG|Down|football}}

| goals1 = K Treanor 1-1, E McEneaney 0-4. G McCarville 0-2, K Finlay 0-1, H Clerkin 0-1.

| goals2 = B McGovern 1-0, D Morgan 1-0, J McCartan 1-0, L Austin 0-1, P O'Rourke 0-1, N Toner 0-1, A McGranaghan 0-1.

| stadium = St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney

| referee = J Gough (Antrim)

| attendance =

}}

Semi-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 21 June 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Armagh|football}}

| score = 4-7 – 1-3

| team2 = {{GG|Antrim|football}}

| goals1 = P Rafferty 1-2, S Devlin 1-0, J Kernan 1-0, C McKinstrey 1-0, B Hughes 0-2, P LOughlin 0-2, J Loughran 0-1.

| goals2 = PJ O'Gara 1-0, D Maguire 0-2, K Gough 0-1.

| stadium = St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney

| referee = S Murray (Monaghan)

| attendance =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 5 July 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = {{GG|Down|football}}

| score = 0-12 – 0-9

| team2 = {{GG|Derry|football}}

| goals1 = B McGovern 0-5, G Blaney 0-2, N Toner 0-2, J McCartan 0-2, A Rogers 0-1.

| goals2 = J McAfee 0-3, B Kelly 0-2, J McGrourty 0-1, T Doherty 0-1, M Lynch 0-1, M McFeeley 0-1.

| stadium = St. Tiernach's Park, Clones

| referee = S McManus (Fermanagh)

| attendance =

}}

Final

{{football box collapsible

| date = 19 July 1981

| round = Final

| team1 = {{GG|Down|football}}

| score = 3-12 – 1-10

| team2 = {{GG|Armagh|football}}

| goals1 = A Rodgers 0-4, G Blaney 1-0, N King 0-1, B McCartan 0-1.

| goals2 = P Loughran 0-5, B Hughes 1-1, C McKinstrey 0-2, P Moriarty 0-1, P Rafferty 0-1.

| stadium = St. Tiernach's Park, Clones

| referee = J Heaney (Tyrone)

| attendance = 25,000

}}

Semi-finals

{{football box collapsible

| date = 9 August 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = Mayo

| score = 1-6 - 2-19

| team2 = Kerry

| goals1 = E McHale 1-0, J McGrath 0-2, J Lyons 0-1, A Garvey 0-1, M Carney 0-1, J Lyons 0-1.

| goals2 = M Sheehy 0-6, E Liston 1-2, G Power 1-0, D Moran 0-3, J Egan 0-3, P Spillane 0-3, J O'Shea 0-1, T Doyle 0-1.

| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

| referee = P Collins (Westmeath)

| attendance = 24,631

}}

{{football box collapsible

| date = 23 August 1981

| round = Semi-final

| team1 = Down

| score = 0-6 - 0-12

| team2 = Offaly

| goals1 = G Blaney 0-3, Jim McCartan 0-1, N King 0-1, B Toner 0-1.

| goals2 = M Connor 0-7, B Lowry 0-2, M Lowry 0-1, G Carroll 0-1, A O'Halloran 0-1.

| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

| referee = W Fogarty (Kerry)

| attendance = 35,406

}}

Final

{{football box collapsible

| date = 20 September 1981

| round = Final

| team1 = Kerry

| score = 1-12 - 0-8

| team2 = Offaly

| goals1 = M Sheehy 0-5, J O'Shea 1-0, D Moran 0-2, T Doyle 0-1, J Egan 0-1, P Ó Sé 0-1, S Walsh 0-1, G Power 0-1.

| goals2 = M Connor 0-4, S Lowry 0-2, T O'Connor 0-1, B Lowry 0-1.

| stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

| referee = P Collins (Westmeath)

| attendance = 65,898

}}

{{Main|1981 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final}}

;Overall

;Single game

• London after six years in the Connacht championship play their games this year on home ground at Ruislip.
• Mayo won their first Connacht title since 1969.
• Kerry become the third team in the history of the championship to win four All-Ireland titles in-a-row. They equalled the record set by Wexford (1915-1918) and Kerry (1929-1932). Lasted until Dublin winning six in a row (2015-2020).

{{reflist}}

{{All-Ireland Senior Football Championship}}