| All Ireland Champions | |
|---|---|
| Winners | Tipperary (5th win) |
| Captain | Philip Kennedy |
| Manager | Michael Minogue |
| All Ireland Runners-up | |
| Runners-up | Kilkenny |
| Captain | John Murphy |
| Manager | Ollie Walsh |
| Provincial Champions | |
| Munster | Tipperary |
| Leinster | Kilkenny |
| Ulster | Antrim |
| Connacht | Not Played |
← 1980 1982 → | |
The 1981 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship was the 18th staging of the All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1964.
Tipperary entered the championship as the defending champions.
On 13 September 1981, Tipperary won the championship following a 2-16 to 1-10 defeat of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.[1] This was their fifth All-Ireland title in the under-21 grade and their third in succession.