1981 Cork Senior Football Championship
The 1981 Cork Senior Football Championship was the 93rd staging of the Cork Senior Football Championship since its establishment by the Cork County Board in 1887. The championship began on 26 April 1981 and ended on 4 October 1981.
St. Finbarr's entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Nemo Rangers at the semi-final stage.
On 4 October 1981, Nemo Rangers won the championship following a 3-11 to 0-06 defeat of Bantry Blues in the final. This was their sixth championship title overall and their first title since 1978.
Pat O'Driscoll was the championship's top scorer with 2-31.
Format change
At the County Convention on 25 January 1981, it was decided to introduce a new graded draw with divisional, rural and city clubs all being grouped individually. The winners of the first two groupings progressed to one semi-final, with two of the city teams qualifying for the other semi-final. The new format was introduced to guarantee a city-county pairing in the final.Championship statistics
Top scorers
;Overall| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Pat O'Driscoll | Bantry Blues | 2-31 | 37 | 8 | 4.62 |
| 2 | Dinny Allen | Nemo Rangers | 0-18 | 18 | 4 | 4.50 |
| 3 | Ephie Fitzgerald | Nemo Rangers | 3-07 | 16 | 4 | 4.00 |
| 4 | Declan Barron | Bantry Blues | 4-03 | 15 | 8 | 1.87 |
| 5 | Donal Hunt | Bantry Blues | 3-05 | 14 | 8 | 1.75 |
;In a single game
| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| 1 | Pat O'Driscoll | Bantry Blues | 1-08 | 11 | Millstreet |
| 2 | Martin Dorney | Avondhu | 3-00 | 9 | Carrigdhoun |
| 2 | Jamesie O'Callaghan | St. Finbarr's | 2-03 | 9 | Na Piarsaigh |
| 2 | Danny Buckley | St. Michael's | 0-09 | 9 | St. Finbarr's |
| 5 | Dinny Allen | Nemo Rangers | 2-02 | 8 | St. Finbarr's |
| 6 | Ephie Fitzgerald | Nemo Rangers | 2-01 | 7 | Bantry Blues |
| 7 | Declan Barron | Bantry Blues | 2-00 | 6 | Adrigole |
| 7 | Denis Nolan | Castlehaven | 2-00 | 6 | Glanworth |
| 7 | Donal Hunt | Bantry Blues | 2-00 | 6 | Millstreet |
| 7 | Finny O'Mahony | St. Finbarr's | 2-00 | 6 | Nemo Rangers |
| 7 | Brendan Terry | Castlehaven | 1-03 | 6 | Bantry Blues |
| 7 | Martin Connolly | Carbery | 1-03 | 6 | Imokilly |
| 7 | Brian Quinlan | Glanworth | 1-03 | 6 | Castlehaven |
| 7 | Tadhg O'Reilly | Bishopstown | 0-06 | 6 | St. Michael's |
| 7 | John Cleary | Castlehaven | 0-06 | 6 | Bantry Blues |
| 7 | Pat O'Driscoll | Bantry Blues | 0-06 | 6 | Castlehaven |
Miscellaneous
- Bantry Blues qualify for the final for the first time since 1909.