| Teams | 14 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Champions |  James Stephens (6th title)Brian Cody (captain) | ||
| Runners-up |  FeniansJohn Henderson (captain) | ||
| |||
The1981 Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship was the 87th staging of theKilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by theKilkenny County Board.
Ballyhale Shamrocks were thedefending champions.
James Stephens won the championship after a 2–10 to 0–08 defeat ofFenians in the final.[1] It was their sixth championship title overall and their first title in five championship seasons.
| 22 August 1981Quarter-final | James Stephens | 1-15 - 0-10 | Conahy Shamrocks | Nowlan Park |
| B Walton 0-9, A Egan 1-1, J Hennessy 0-4, T McCormack 0-1. | S Muldowney 0-6, K Brennan 0-2, P Mulhall 0-1, N Mulhall 0-1. |
| 23 August 1981Quarter-final | Fenians | 3-09 - 1-15 | Ballyhale Shamrocks | Nowlan Park |
| B Fitzpatrick 2-3, B Purcell 1-1, C Power 0-3, J Power 0-1, M Garrett 0-1. | G Fennelly 0-8, L Fennelly 1-0, M Fennelly 0-2, M Mason 0-1, F Holohan 0-1, B Fennelly 0-1, J Walsh 0-1, D Fennelly 0-1. |
| 23 August 1981Quarter-final | Muckalee/Ballyfoyle Rangers | 3-15 - 3-09 | Rower-Inistioge | Nowlan Park |
| P Moran 2-3, J Brennan 0-8, T Moran 1-2, John Moran 0-1, D Coonan 0-1. | E Keher 2-4, M Lyng 1-1, S Lester 0-1, J Prendergast 0-1, T Malone 0-1, D Meaney 0-1. |
| 30 August 1981Quarter-final | Erin's Own | 0-24 - 3-09 | St Patrick's | Nowlan Park |
| S Coogan 0-10, M Nash 0-4, Mick Brennan 0-4, S Grennan 0-3, Martin Brennan 0-2, M Fogarty 0-1. | P Gannon 0-6, S Stapleton 2-1, J Ruth 1-0, M O'Shea 0-1, M Ruth 0-1. |
| 30 August 1981Quarter-final replay | Fenians | 2-11 - 1-12 | Ballyhale Shamrocks | Nowlan Park |
| B Fitzpatrick 1-6, G Henderson 1-0, P Delaney 0-3, E Grehan 0-1, B Purcell 0-1. | G Fennelly 1-7, B Fennelly 0-1, M Fennelly 0-1, S Grace 0-1, M Kelly 0-1, R Reid 0-1. |
| 27 September 1981Semi-final | James Stephens | 0-16 - 0-07 | Muckalee/Ballyfoyle Rangers | Nowlan Park |
| B Walton 0-8, J McCormack 0-3, P Brennan 0-2, D McCormack 0-1, A Egan 0-1, M Crotty 0-1. | J Brennan 0-4, P Moran 0-1, T Moran 0-1, D Coonan 0-1. |
| 27 September 1981Semi-final | Fenians | 2-15 - 2-07 | Erin's Own | Nowlan Park |
| B Purcell 2-2, B Fitzpatrick 0-5, G Henderson 0-3, P Delaney 0-2, M Garrett 0-1, E Grehan 0-1, J Power 0-1. | M Nash 1-3, E Wallace 1-0, S Brennan 0-2, M Brennan 0-1, S Coogan 0-1. |
| 11 October 1981Final | James Stephens | 2-10 - 0-08 | Fenians | Nowlan Park |
| A Egan 1-1, B Walton 0-4, M Crotty 1-0, J McCormack 0-2, D McCormack 0-1, T McCormack 0-1, J O'Brien 0-1. | B Fitzpatrick 0-4, W Purcell 0-2, P Delaney 0-1, M Garrett 0-1. |