1981 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Gaelic football tournament February 2014 February 2014 1981 10 May – 20 September 1981 33 Mayo Kerry Offaly Down 34 border|20px Jack O'Shea Kerry 27th Jimmy Deenihan Mick O'Dwyer Offaly Richie Connor Eugene McGee border|20px Matt Connor (1–31) 1980 1982 The 1981 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 95th staging of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county Gaelic football tournament. The championship began on 10 May 1981 and ended on 20 September 1981. Kerry entered the championship as the defending champions and were hoping to win a record-equalling fourth successive championship title. On 20 September 1981, Kerry won the championship following a 1–12 to 0–8 defeat of Offaly in the All-Ireland final.http://irishecho.com/2011/12/minister-reveals-how-he-lost-sam-in-1981/ Minister reveals how he lost Sam in 1981 The Irish Echo 30 October 2016 21 December 2011 This was their 27th All-Ireland title and their fourth championship in succession. Offaly's Matt Connor was the championship's top scorer with 1–31. Kerry's Jack O'Shea was the choice for Texaco Footballer of the Year. Munster Championship format change The normal system of 2 Quarter-final's and 2 Semi-final's is back.September 2025 Results Connacht Senior Football Championship Quarter-finals 30 May 1981 Quarter-final London football 1–4 – 3–11 Mayo football P Maher 1–3, J Keoghan 0–1. M Carney 1–2, J Burke 1–2, J McGrath 1–0, E McHale 0–3, J Lyons 0–2, J Maughan 0–2. Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip T Cunningham (Galway) 7 June 1981 Quarter-final Galway football 2–16 – 0–6 Leitrim football G McManus 0–11, TJ Gilmore 1–2, S Joyce 1–0, B Brennan 0–2, T Naughton 0–1. F Smith 0–2, J Ward 0–1, M Quinn 0–1, J Logan 0–1, S Tighe 0–1. Tuam Stadium, Tuam PJ McGrath (Mayo) Semi-finals 14 June 1981 Semi-final Sligo football 2–9 – 1–8 Roscommon football J Kearins 2–1, J Kent 0–3, M Hoey 0–3, PJ Kavanagh 0–1, J Stenson 0–1. D Earley 1–3, L Dolphin 0–2, J O'Gara 0–1, T McManus 0–1, T Donlon 0–1. Markievicz Park, Sligo P Egan (Leitrim) 21 June 1981 Semi-final Mayo football 2–8 – 1–9 Galway football 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. 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. McHale Park, Castlebar T. Moran (Leitrim) 20,000 Final 12 July 1981 Final Mayo football 0–12 – 0–4 Sligo football 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. John Kent 0–2, P Henry 0–1, E McHale 0–1. McHale Park, Castlebar T Cunningham (Galway) Leinster Senior Football Championship First round 10 May 1981 First round Longford football 1–10 – 3–10 Westmeath football B Smith 0–5, M Casey 1–0, T Sheridan 0–3, J McCormack 0–1, L Tierney 0–1. 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. Pearse Park, Longford P Kavanagh (Meath) 3,000 10 May 1981 First round Kilkenny football 2–4 – 2–11 Wexford football S Fennelly 1–1, P Lannon 1–1, J O'Donnell 0–1, J Walsh 0–1. G Howlin 2–0, E Mann 0–6, T Wright 0–3, G Byrne 0–1, J Wright 0–1. Nowlan Park, Kilkenny C Lally (Laois) 10 May 1981 First round Wicklow football 3–11 – 1–8 Carlow football 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. W Cullen 1–3, N Bambrick 0–2, D O'Connor 0–1, C Ware 0–1, M Doyle 0–1. Geraldine Park, Athy S Aldridge (Kildare) 17 May 1981 First round Laois football 5–8 – 3–8 Louth football E Whelan 2–2, W Brennan 1–4, D O'Loughlin 1–2, T Prendergast 1–0. K Dawe 2–4, M McDermott 1–1, E Judge 0–1, G O'Callaghan 0–1, Jim McDonnell 0–1. Croke Park, Dublin A Jordan (Dublin) 3,755 Quarter-finals 31 May 1981 Quarter-final Dublin football 0–10 – 0–8 Wicklow football J McCarthy 0–4, A McCaul 0–4, K Duff 0–1, PJ Buckley 0–1. P Baker 0–3, P O'Byrne 0–2, T Murphy 0–2, J Lynch 0–1. St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge J Gunning (Offaly) 11,000 31 May 1981 Quarter-final Westmeath football 1–9 – 1–14 Offaly football F Tone 1–4, S Hannratty 0–1, T Collins 0–1, E Tynan 0–1, W Lowry 0–1. M Connor 0–9, B Lowry 1–2, S Lowry 0–1, J Moran 0–1, M Wright 0–1. Cusack Park, Mullingar K Campbell (Meath) 7000 7 June 1981 Quarter-final Wexford football 2–9 – 1–11 Meath football E Mahon 0–6, J Wright 1–0, G Howlin 1–0, G O'Connor 0–3. E Barry 0–6, L Smith 1–1, C O'Rourke 0–3, F O'Sullivan 0–1. Croke Park, Dublin D Guerin (Dublin) 14 June 1981 Quarter-final Laois football 3–13 – 1–9 Kildare football T Prendergast 3–3, W Brennan 0–5, E Whelan 0–3, M Moore 0–2. G Power 1–4, T Shaw 0–2, L Tompkins 0–2, M Condon 0–1. O'Connor Park, Tullamore P Collins (Westmeath) Semi-finals 28 June 1981 Semi-final Offaly football 1–16 – 0–14 Wexford football M Connor 1–5, B Lowry 0–4, G Carroll 0–3, J Mooney 0–2, M Wright 0–1, T Connor 0–1. E Mahon 0–8, G Howlin 0–2, G O'Connor 0–2, G Byrne 0–1, S Fitzhenry 0–1. Croke Park, Dublin C Lally (Laois) 7,000 5 July 1981 Semi-final Dublin football 0–11 – 2–9 Laois football A McCaul 0–8, J Thompson 0–2, J Ronayne 0–1. 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. O'Connor Park, Tullamore P Kavanagh (Meath) 25,000 Final 26 July 1981 Final Offaly football 1–18 – 3–9 Laois football 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 Willie Brennan 1–3 (0-2f), Mick Moore 1–2, Tom Prendergast 1–1, John Costello, Eamon Whelan, Declan O'Loughlin 0–1 each Croke Park, Dublin Paddy Collins (Westmeath) 28,398 Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-finals 31 May 1981 Quarter-final Tipperary football 0–9 – 3–14 Clare football 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. 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. Gaelic Grounds, Limerick W Fogarty (Kerry) 31 May 1981 Quarter-final Limerick football 0–10 – 0–10 Waterford football A Moran 0–3, K Hanley 0–2, T Cummins 0–2, M Quish 0–1, F Ryan 0–1, D Fitzgerald 0–1. P White 0–4, M Horgan 0–2, R Dunford 0–1, M Hackett 0–1, T Keating 0–1, J Power 0–1. Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 14 June 1981 Quarter-final replay Waterford football 0–10 – 1–4 Limerick football T Casey 0–5, P White 0–3, J Kelly 0–1, T Keating 0–1. T Cummins 1–0, A Moran 0–2, D Kiely 0–1, K Hanley 0–1. Fraher Field, Dungarvan M Griffin (Clare) Semi-finals 28 June 1981 Semi-final Kerry football 4–17 – 0–6 Clare football 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. G Fitzpatrick 0–2, P McNamara 0–2, N Roche 0–1, J McGrath 0–1. Frank Sheehy Park, Listowel P Lane (Limerick) 28 June 1981 Semi-final Waterford football 0–7 – 2–18 Cork football P White 0–3, M Kavanagh 0–2, T Casey 0–2. 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. Fraher Field, Dungarvan W Fogarty (Kerry) Final 19 July 1981 Final Kerry football 1–11 – 0–3 Cork football Mikey Sheehy 1–5 (0-2f), Pat Spillane 0–3, Jack O'Shea, Eoin Liston, John Egan 0–1 each Tom Creedon (0-1f), Dave Barry, Dinny Allen (0-1f) 0–1 each Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney Paddy Collins (Westmeath) 41,292 Ulster Senior Football Championship Preliminary round 17 May 1981 Preliminary round Monaghan football 2–9 – 0–6 Tyrone football E McEneaney 1–7, S McAleer 1–1, K Treanor 0–1. B Donnelly 0–2, P Ball 0–2, J Devlin 0–1, E McKenna 0–1. St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney S McManus (Fermanagh) Quarter-finals 24 May 1981 Quarter-final Antrim football 2–13 – 2–12 Cavan football J Herron 1–4, K Gough 1–1, A McQuillan 0–4, D Maguire 0–3, S McGourdy 0–1. D Donohoe 2–5, M Reilly 0–1, C O'Keeffe 0–1, M Faulkner 0–1. Casement Park, Belfast S Murray (Monaghan) 31 May 1981 Quarter-final Armagh football 2–16 – 0–13 Donegal football 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. 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. Athletic Grounds, Armagh J Heaney (Tyrone) 7 June 1981 Quarter-final Derry football 0–12 – 0–10 Fermanagh football B Kelly 0–4, M Feeley 0–4, J McGrourty 0–2, T Doherty 0–1, J McAree 0–1. P McGinnitty 0–4, G McEvoy 0–3, E McPartland 0–1, P Connolly 0–1, P Courtney 0–1. Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen S Gallagher (Donegal) 14 June 1981 Quarter-final Down football 0–10 – 0–10 Monaghan football B McGovern 0–7, N Toner 0–1, L Austin 0–1, D Morgan 0–1. E McEneaney 0–6, S McAleer 0–2, D Mulligan 0–1, T Moyna 0–1. Pairc Esler, Newry J Gough (Antrim) 28 June 1981 Quarter-final replay Monaghan football 1–9 – 3–4 Down football K Treanor 1–1, E McEneaney 0–4. G McCarville 0–2, K Finlay 0–1, H Clerkin 0–1. 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. St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney J Gough (Antrim) Semi-finals 21 June 1981 Semi-final Armagh football 4–7 – 1–3 Antrim football 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. PJ O'Gara 1–0, D Maguire 0–2, K Gough 0–1. St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney S Murray (Monaghan) 5 July 1981 Semi-final Down football 0–12 – 0–9 Derry football B McGovern 0–5, G Blaney 0–2, N Toner 0–2, J McCartan 0–2, A Rogers 0–1. J McAfee 0–3, B Kelly 0–2, J McGrourty 0–1, T Doherty 0–1, M Lynch 0–1, M McFeeley 0–1. St. Tiernach's Park, Clones S McManus (Fermanagh) Final 19 July 1981 Final Down football 3–12 – 1–10 Armagh football A Rodgers 0–4, G Blaney 1–0, N King 0–1, B McCartan 0–1. P Loughran 0–5, B Hughes 1–1, C McKinstrey 0–2, P Moriarty 0–1, P Rafferty 0–1. St. Tiernach's Park, Clones J Heaney (Tyrone) 25,000 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-finals 9 August 1981 Semi-final Mayo 1–6 – 2–19 Kerry E McHale 1–0, J McGrath 0–2, J Lyons 0–1, A Garvey 0–1, M Carney 0–1, J Lyons 0–1. 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. Croke Park, Dublin P Collins (Westmeath) 24,631 23 August 1981 Semi-final Down 0–6 – 0–12 Offaly G Blaney 0–3, Jim McCartan 0–1, N King 0–1, B Toner 0–1. M Connor 0–7, B Lowry 0–2, M Lowry 0–1, G Carroll 0–1, A O'Halloran 0–1. Croke Park, Dublin W Fogarty (Kerry) 35,406 Final 20 September 1981 Final Kerry 1–12 – 0–8 Offaly 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. M Connor 0–4, S Lowry 0–2, T O'Connor 0–1, B Lowry 0–1. Croke Park, Dublin P Collins (Westmeath) 65,898 1981 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final Championship statistics Top scorers Overall Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average1Matt ConnorOffaly1–313456.802Mikey SheehyKerry1–222546.253Tom PrendergastLaois6–52345.754Eamonn McEneaneyMonaghan1–172036.665Eoin ListonKerry4–61844.50 Single game Rank Player County Tally Total Opposition1Tom PrendergastLaois3–312KildareEoin ListonKerry3–312Clare3Donal DonohoeCavan2–511AntrimGay McManusGalway0–1111Leitrim5Kevin DaweLouth2–410LaoisEamonn McEneaneyMonaghan1–710Tyrone7Matt ConnorOffaly0–99Westmeath8Eamonn WhelanLaois2–28LouthMatt ConnorOffaly1–58WexfordMikey SheehyKerry1–58CorkEddie MahonWexford0–88OffalyAnto McCaulDublin0–88Laois Miscellaneous 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. Armagh vs Down Ulster final the only 1 (1961-1999). 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). References