Championship details | |
---|---|
Dates | 10 May – 20 September 1981 |
Teams | 33 |
All-Ireland Champions | |
Winning team | Kerry (27th win) |
Captain | Jimmy Deenihan |
Manager | Mick O'Dwyer |
All-Ireland Finalists | |
Losing team | Offaly |
Captain | Richie Connor |
Manager | Eugene McGee |
Provincial Champions | |
Munster | Kerry |
Leinster | Offaly |
Ulster | Down |
Connacht | Mayo |
Championship statistics | |
No. matches played | 34 |
Top Scorer | ![]() |
Player of the Year | ![]() |
← 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. [1] 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.
The normal system of 2 Quarter-final's and 2 Semi-final's is back.
Quarter-finals
30 May 1981Quarter-final | London | 1–4 – 3–11 | Mayo | Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip |
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. | Referee: T Cunningham (Galway) |
7 June 1981Quarter-final | Galway | 2–16 – 0–6 | Leitrim | Tuam Stadium, Tuam |
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. | Referee: PJ McGrath (Mayo) |
Semi-finals
14 June 1981Semi-final | Sligo | 2–9 – 1–8 | Roscommon | Markievicz Park, Sligo |
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. | Referee: P Egan (Leitrim) |
21 June 1981Semi-final | Mayo | 2–8 – 1–9 | Galway | McHale Park, Castlebar |
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. | Attendance: 20,000 Referee: T. Moran (Leitrim) |
Final
12 July 1981Final | Mayo | 0–12 – 0–4 | Sligo | McHale Park, Castlebar |
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. | Referee: T Cunningham (Galway) |
First round
10 May 1981First round | Longford | 1–10 – 3–10 | Westmeath | Pearse Park, Longford |
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. | Attendance: 3,000 Referee: P Kavanagh (Meath) |
10 May 1981First round | Kilkenny | 2–4 – 2–11 | Wexford | Nowlan Park, Kilkenny |
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. | Referee: C Lally (Laois) |
10 May 1981First round | Wicklow | 3–11 – 1–8 | Carlow | Geraldine Park, Athy |
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. | Referee: S Aldridge (Kildare) |
17 May 1981First round | Laois | 5–8 – 3–8 | Louth | Croke Park, Dublin |
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. | Attendance: 3,755 Referee: A Jordan (Dublin) |
Quarter-finals
31 May 1981Quarter-final | Dublin | 0–10 – 0–8 | Wicklow | St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge |
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. | Attendance: 11,000 Referee: J Gunning (Offaly) |
31 May 1981Quarter-final | Westmeath | 1–9 – 1–14 | Offaly | Cusack Park, Mullingar |
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. | Attendance: 7000 Referee: K Campbell (Meath) |
7 June 1981Quarter-final | Wexford | 2–9 – 1–11 | Meath | Croke Park, Dublin |
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. | Referee: D Guerin (Dublin) |
14 June 1981Quarter-final | Laois | 3–13 – 1–9 | Kildare | O'Connor Park, Tullamore |
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. | Referee: P Collins (Westmeath) |
Semi-finals
28 June 1981Semi-final | Offaly | 1–16 – 0–14 | Wexford | Croke Park, Dublin |
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. | Attendance: 7,000 Referee: C Lally (Laois) |
5 July 1981Semi-final | Dublin | 0–11 – 2–9 | Laois | O'Connor Park, Tullamore |
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. | Attendance: 25,000 Referee: P Kavanagh (Meath) |
Final
26 July 1981Final | Offaly | 1–18 – 3–9 | Laois | Croke Park, Dublin |
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 | Attendance: 28,398 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath) |
Quarter-finals
31 May 1981Quarter-final | Tipperary | 0–9 – 3–14 | Clare | Gaelic Grounds, Limerick |
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. | Referee: W Fogarty (Kerry) |
31 May 1981Quarter-final | Limerick | 0–10 – 0–10 | Waterford | Gaelic Grounds, Limerick |
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. |
14 June 1981Quarter-final replay | Waterford | 0–10 – 1–4 | Limerick | Fraher Field, Dungarvan |
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. | Referee: M Griffin (Clare) |
Semi-finals
28 June 1981Semi-final | Kerry | 4–17 – 0–6 | Clare | Frank Sheehy Park, Listowel |
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. | Referee: P Lane (Limerick) |
28 June 1981Semi-final | Waterford | 0–7 – 2–18 | Cork | Fraher Field, Dungarvan |
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. | Referee: W Fogarty (Kerry) |
Final
19 July 1981Final | Kerry | 1–11 – 0–3 | Cork | Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney |
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 | Attendance: 41,292 Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath) |
Preliminary round
17 May 1981Preliminary round | Monaghan | 2–9 – 0–6 | Tyrone | St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney |
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. | Referee: S McManus (Fermanagh) |
Quarter-finals
24 May 1981Quarter-final | Antrim | 2–13 – 2–12 | Cavan | Casement Park, Belfast |
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. | Referee: S Murray (Monaghan) |
31 May 1981Quarter-final | Armagh | 2–16 – 0–13 | Donegal | Athletic Grounds, Armagh |
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. | Referee: J Heaney (Tyrone) |
7 June 1981Quarter-final | Derry | 0–12 – 0–10 | Fermanagh | Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen |
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. | Referee: S Gallagher (Donegal) |
14 June 1981Quarter-final | Down | 0–10 – 0–10 | Monaghan | Pairc Esler, Newry |
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. | Referee: J Gough (Antrim) |
28 June 1981Quarter-final replay | Monaghan | 1–9 – 3–4 | Down | St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney |
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. | Referee: J Gough (Antrim) |
Semi-finals
21 June 1981Semi-final | Armagh | 4–7 – 1–3 | Antrim | St. Mary's Park, Castleblayney |
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. | Referee: S Murray (Monaghan) |
5 July 1981Semi-final | Down | 0–12 – 0–9 | Derry | St. Tiernach's Park, Clones |
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. | Referee: S McManus (Fermanagh) |
Final
19 July 1981Final | Down | 3–12 – 1–10 | Armagh | St. Tiernach's Park, Clones |
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. | Attendance: 25,000 Referee: J Heaney (Tyrone) |
Semi-finals
9 August 1981Semi-final | Mayo | 1–6 – 2–19 | Kerry | Croke Park, Dublin |
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. | Attendance: 24,631 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath) |
23 August 1981Semi-final | Down | 0–6 – 0–12 | Offaly | Croke Park, Dublin |
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. | Attendance: 35,406 Referee: W Fogarty (Kerry) |
Final
20 September 1981Final | Kerry | 1–12 – 0–8 | Offaly | Croke Park, Dublin |
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. | Attendance: 65,898 Referee: P Collins (Westmeath) |
Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Matt Connor | Offaly | 1–31 | 34 | 5 | 6.80 |
2 | Mikey Sheehy | Kerry | 1–22 | 25 | 4 | 6.25 |
3 | Tom Prendergast | Laois | 6–5 | 23 | 4 | 5.75 |
4 | Eamonn McEneaney | Monaghan | 1–17 | 20 | 3 | 6.66 |
5 | Eoin Liston | Kerry | 4–6 | 18 | 4 | 4.50 |
Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tom Prendergast | Laois | 3–3 | 12 | Kildare |
Eoin Liston | Kerry | 3–3 | 12 | Clare | |
3 | Donal Donohoe | Cavan | 2–5 | 11 | Antrim |
Gay McManus | Galway | 0–11 | 11 | Leitrim | |
5 | Kevin Dawe | Louth | 2–4 | 10 | Laois |
Eamonn McEneaney | Monaghan | 1–7 | 10 | Tyrone | |
7 | Matt Connor | Offaly | 0–9 | 9 | Westmeath |
8 | Eamonn Whelan | Laois | 2–2 | 8 | Louth |
Matt Connor | Offaly | 1–5 | 8 | Wexford | |
Mikey Sheehy | Kerry | 1–5 | 8 | Cork | |
Eddie Mahon | Wexford | 0–8 | 8 | Offaly | |
Anto McCaul | Dublin | 0–8 | 8 | Laois |