| 1981 Railway Cup Hurling Championship | |
| Dates: | 1 March 1981 - 17 March 1981 |
| Teams: | 4 |
| Champions: | Munster |
| Count: | 35 |
| Champions Captain: | Joe McKenna |
| Runners-Up: | Leinster |
| Matches: | 3 |
| Goals: | 10 |
| Points: | 60 |
| Top Scorer: | Éamonn Cregan (2-09) |
| Previous Year: | 1980 |
| Previous Tournament: | 1980 Railway Cup Hurling Championship |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Next Tournament: | 1982 Railway Cup Hurling Championship |
The 1981 Railway Cup Hurling Championship was the 55th staging of the Railway Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1927.[1] The cup began on 1 March 1981 and ended on 17 March 1981.
Connacht were the defending champions, however, they were beaten by Leinster in the semi-final.
On 17 March 1981, Munster won the cup after a 2–16 to 2–06 defeat of Leinster in the final at Cusack Park.[2] This was their 35th Railway Cup title overall and their first title since 1978.
| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Éamonn Cregan | Munster | 2-09 | 15 | 2 | 7.50 |
| 2 | Joe McKenna | Munster | 2-04 | 10 | 2 | 5.00 |
| 3 | Pat Horgan | Leinster | 2-02 | 8 | 2 | 4.00 |
| Pat Delaney | Leinster | 1-05 | 8 | 2 | 4.00 |
J McKenna 10P Delaney 8P Horgan 8