1981 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
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. 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. 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.Teams
Results
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
FinalQuarter-final
Semi-finals
FinalQuarter-final
Semi-finals
Final;Top scorers overall
| 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 |
| 7 | Tony Doran | Wexford | 2–06 | 12 | 3 | 4.00 |
| 9 | George O'Connor | Wexford | 1-08 | 11 | 3 | 3.66 |
| 9 | Declan Coote | Clare | 1-08 | 11 | 3 | 3.66 |
;Top scorers in a single game
| Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Joe Connolly | Galway | 2–07 | 13 | Limerick |
| 2 | Joe McKenna | Limerick | 3–03 | 12 | Clare |
| 2 | 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 |
| 6 | Pádraig Horan | Offaly | 2–03 | 9 | Wexford |
| 6 | Séamus Bourke | Tipperary | 2–03 | 9 | Limerick |
| 6 | Noel Lane | Galway | 1–06 | 9 | Antrim |
| 6 | Martin Brophy | Laois | 0–09 | 9 | Westmeath |
Broadcasting
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 |
