| 1981 Croke Cup | |
| Dates: | 12 April - 10 May 1981 |
| Teams: | 3 |
| Champions: | Kilkenny CBS |
| Count: | 1 |
| Champions Captain: | Paul Cleere |
| Champions Manager: | Brother Minniter |
| Runners-Up: | North Monastery |
| Runners-Up Captain: | John Drinan |
| Runners-Up Manager: | Donal O'Grady (manager) Murt Murphy |
| Matches: | 2 |
| Goals: | 5 |
| Points: | 26 |
| Top Scorer: | Michael Lawlor (2-00) |
| Previous Year: | 1980 |
| Previous Tournament: | 1980 Croke Cup |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Next Tournament: | 1982 Croke Cup |
The 1981 Croke Cup was the 30th staging of the Croke Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1944. The competition ran from 12 April to 10 May 1981.
North Monastery were the defending champions.[1] [2] [3]
The final was played on 10 May 1981 at Walsh Park in Waterford, between Kilkenny CBS and the North Monastery, in what was their first ever meeting in the final.[4] Kilkenny CBS won the match by 3–05 to 1–08 to claim their first ever Croke Cup title.[5] [6] [7]
Michael Lawlor was the top scorer with 2-00.
| Province | Champions | |
|---|---|---|
| Connacht | Our Lady's College | |
| Leinster | Kilkenny CBS | |
| Munster | North Monastery |
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Lawlor | Kilkenny CBS | 2-00 | 6 | 1 | 6.00 |
| 2 | John Chisholm | North Monastery | 1-02 | 5 | 2 | 2.50 |
| Terry O'Mahony | North Monastery | 1-02 | 5 | 2 | 2.50 |