1981 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Last updated

1981 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Championship details
Dates10 May – 20 September 1981
Teams33
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 played34
Top Scorer Colours of Offaly.svg Matt Connor (1–31)
Player of the Year Colours of Kerry.svg Jack O'Shea
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.

Contents

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.

Munster Championship format change

The normal system of 2 Quarter-final's and 2 Semi-final's is back.

Results

Connacht Senior Football Championship

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)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

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 0–1Willie Brennan 1–3 (0-2f), Mick Moore 1–2, Tom Prendergast 1–1, John Costello, Eamon Whelan, Declan O'Loughlin 0–1 eachAttendance: 28,398
Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath)

Munster Senior Football Championship

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 eachTom Creedon (0-1f), Dave Barry, Dinny Allen (0-1f) 0–1 eachAttendance: 41,292
Referee: Paddy Collins (Westmeath)

Ulster Senior Football Championship

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)

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

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)

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1 Matt Connor Offaly 1–313456.80
2 Mikey Sheehy Kerry 1–222546.25
3 Tom Prendergast Laois 6–52345.75
4 Eamonn McEneaney Monaghan 1–172036.66
5 Eoin Liston Kerry 4–61844.50
Single game
RankPlayerCountyTallyTotalOpposition
1Tom Prendergast Laois 3–312 Kildare
Eoin Liston Kerry 3–312 Clare
3Donal Donohoe Cavan 2–511 Antrim
Gay McManus Galway 0–1111 Leitrim
5Kevin Dawe Louth 2–410 Laois
Eamonn McEneaney Monaghan 1–710 Tyrone
7 Matt Connor Offaly 0–99 Westmeath
8Eamonn Whelan Laois 2–28 Louth
Matt Connor Offaly 1–58 Wexford
Mikey Sheehy Kerry 1–58 Cork
Eddie Mahon Wexford 0–88 Offaly
Anto McCaul Dublin 0–88 Laois

Miscellaneous

References

  1. "Minister reveals how he lost Sam in 1981". The Irish Echo. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2016.