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 Cork Senior [Football Championship|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.