| Year: | 1981 |
| Dates: | 24 May – 6 September 1981 |
| Teams: | 13 |
| Munster: | Limerick |
| Leinster: | Offaly |
| Matches: | 14 |
| Poty: | Pat Delaney |
| Team: | Offaly |
| Titles: | 1st |
| Captain: | Pádraig Horan |
| Manager: | Dermot Healy |
| Team2: | Galway |
| Captain2: | Seán Silke |
| Manager2: | Cyril Farrell |
| Totalgoals: | 67 (4.78 per game) |
| Totalpoints: | 381 (27.21 per game) |
| Topscorer: | Joe McKenna (7–12) |
| Previous: | 1980 |
| Next: | 1982 |
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.[1] 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.[2] 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.
Promoted from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
Relegated to the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship
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.
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Quarter-final
Semi-finals
Final
See main article: 1981 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final.
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe McKenna | Limerick | 7–12 | 33 | 5 | 6.60 |
| 2 | Joe Connolly | Galway | 3–21 | 30 | 4 | 7.50 |
| 3 | Éamonn Cregan | Limerick | 2–18 | 24 | 5 | 4.80 |
| 4 | Pádraig Horan | Offaly | 4-07 | 19 | 3 | 6.33 |
| 5 | Noel Lane | Galway | 1-12 | 15 | 4 | 3.75 |
| 6 | John Grogan | Tipperary | 2–08 | 14 | 2 | 7.00 |
| 7 | Bernie Forde | Galway | 2–06 | 12 | 4 | 3.00 |
| Tony Doran | Wexford | 2–06 | 12 | 3 | 4.00 | |
| 9 | George O'Connor | Wexford | 1-08 | 11 | 3 | 3.66 |
| Declan Coote | Clare | 1-08 | 11 | 3 | 3.66 |
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Connolly | Galway | 2–07 | 13 | Limerick |
| 2 | Joe McKenna | Limerick | 3–03 | 12 | Clare |
| John Grogan | Tipperary | 2–06 | 12 | Limerick | |
| 4 | Bernie Forde | Galway | 2–05 | 11 | Antrim |
| 5 | Joe McKenna | Limerick | 3–01 | 10 | Tipperary |
| 6 | Billy Bohane | Laois | 2–03 | 9 | Offaly |
| Pádraig Horan | Offaly | 2–03 | 9 | Wexford | |
| Séamus Bourke | Tipperary | 2–03 | 9 | Limerick | |
| Noel Lane | Galway | 1–06 | 9 | Antrim | |
| Martin Brophy | Laois | 0–09 | 9 | Westmeath |
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.
| Round | RTÉ | |
|---|---|---|
| All-Ireland semi-final | Limerick vs Galway | |
| All-Ireland final | Offaly vs Galway |