The County Finals of 1989 and 1991

Seir Kieran retained their Senior Hurling League title in 1989, beating Lusmagh on 14 May by 3-13 to 1-10. Since the inception of the SHL, the winners had always gone on to win the championship as well. However, this was not the way it turned out in 1989, and it was Lusmagh who would emerge on top in October. The Clareen side started the championship with wins over Kinnitty (28 May), and Kilcormac/Killoughey (17 September, by a two-point margin), which was enough to qualify for the Semi-finals – and to make the last match in the group stages just a formality. This third-round game took place against St Rynagh’s on 24 September. Two goals from Pat Mahon and 0-7 from Johnny Dooley meant that Seir Kieran led for most of the way, until Declan Fogarty’s last-minute goal swung it (St Rynagh’s 3-9, Seir Kieran 3-8). In the Semi-final against Birr, Seir Kieran contained Birr dangerman Ray Landy reasonably well, until Landy scored the townsmen’s only goal two minutes from time (Seir Kieran 3-10, Birr 1-9). In the Final on 22 October 1989, an exciting game of great intensity teetered first one way and then another. Lusmagh scored 0-6 from play in the last 20 minutes, to cut the defending champions’ lead to two points. In the last minute of play, John Kelly scored a goal for the Reds. Pat Horan blew the long whistle soon after, and Lusmagh (trained by Joachim Kelly and captained by Jim Troy) had deservedly won their first Title by 1-11 to 1-10.

Seir Kieran reached the Senior Hurling League Final for the third time in succession on 22 April 1990, only to lose by four points to a fast-maturing Birr side. The black and amber also failed to qualify for the last stages of the 1990 Senior Hurling Championship. A 0-12 to 0-10 loss to St Rynagh’s in the opening round was made up for by impressive wins over Birr (2-13 to 0-10) and Kinnitty (4-15 to 0-11). However, Birr had regrouped to beat St Rynagh’s and force a three-way play-off, involving those two teams and Seir Kieran. In the first leg of this play-off, on 18 September 1990 at Rath, Birr shocked Seir Kieran by 0-12 to 1-6 to qualify for the Semi-finals. Liam Coughlan the goalkeeper gave the one flawless display, in a Clareen defence much more troubled than for a long time past. The losers had to play St Rynagh’s again on 23 September, with the other Semi-final slot at stake. Despite seeming to be in control for most of the way, Seir Kieran conceded 1-3 in the last four minutes and were eliminated by 2-9 to 1-10.

Seir Kieran signaled that they were still contenders in 1991 with an opening round 2-12 to 1-8 win over Coolderry. Kevin Kinahan was centre back, and his commanding display led to his selection for the Offaly U-21 hurling team that year. In the second round on 20 July, Seir Kieran also had a big win (3-14 to 0-6) over Tullamore. The Offaly County Board postponed the third round of SHC games, in order to allow Seir Kieran’s Johnny Dooley, Lusmagh’s John Troy, and Birr’s Brian Whelahan and Johnny Pilkington to participate in the U-21 Shinty international against Scotland. (This match was played at Limerick on 27 July 1991,when Ireland and Scotland scored six goals apiece.) Seir Kieran’s third-round clash with Birr eventually went ahead on 17 August, and finished Birr 1-17 Seir Kieran 0-8. Birr also had 18 wides as Seir Kieran were out-played in every sector. In their resulting play-off game (14 September at Rath), Seir Kieran bounced back to win by 2-17 to Coolderry’s 1-10. In the Semi-final against Lusmagh on 30 September, the black and amber won a tense encounter by 1-13 to 0-12. The County Final took place on 13 October 1991, and the persistent drizzle did not impede a high-standard game with plenty of direct first-time hurling. Seir Kieran capitalized on their early opportunities, but Birr made the crucial switches which forced the Clareen men onto the defensive for most of the second half. It was still deadlocked in the last minute, when the Birr goalkeeper (Paddy Kirwan from Ballyskenagh) came forward to convert the 65′ free to make it Birr 1-12, Seir Kieran 1-11.^[59] Of the five County Finals that they had contested in the past seven years, Seir Kieran had now lost four.

Seir Kieran continued to have success in other grades. In November 1989 the following panel – including several from Killavilla, with whom Seir Kieran were joined for the purposes of under-age hurling – defeated Ballyskenagh to win the Juvenile (U-16) ‘B’ Hurling Title: Finbarr Murphy, Ray Fitzpatrick, Owen Breslin, Damien Coffey, Aidan O’Neill, Damien Murphy (captain), Neville Phelan, Kevin Abbott, John Dooley, Pat Grogan, Stephen Coakley, Roy Makim, Paul Scully, John Coakley, TJ Dooley, Peter Breslin, Michael Carroll, Joe Guinan, Tadhg Mulrooney, Kieran Kealey (goalie), Ollie Fitzpatrick, and James Coakley. The team was trained by Michael Corrigan. The club’s morale was also lifted by continuing to punch above its weight during Offaly hurling’s Minor, U-21, NHL, and Leinster Championship campaigns of 1989, 1990 and 1991.

Offaly hurling in transition, 1989 and 1990

Having gone down badly to Kilkenny in the Leinster Minor Hurling Final of 1988 (when Aidan Mulrooney and Johnny Dooley represented Seir Kieran), the Offaly Minors proved unstoppable the following year, beating Wexford and Dublin to qualify for a re-match against the Cats in the Leinster Final (9 July 1989). This was a great, fast and open game and ended at 14 points apiece. Offaly won the replay at Portlaoise by 4-13 to 0-13. Kevin Flynn (2), Raymond Dooley and Ronan McNamara were the goal-scorers, while a Kilkenny attack that included Charlie Carter failed to beat John Troy. In the All Ireland Semi-final, Offaly lived dangerously against a fast and skillful Down team, before winning by 1-11 to 1-5. They had sharpened up considerably by the first Sunday in September, and triumphed over Clare (2-16 to 1-12) for the Faithful County’s third Minor Title in four years. Brian Whelahan was captain. Offaly played almost to exhibition standard at times, although Clare proved a tough nut to crack. Niall Hand goaled for Offaly after four minutes, and again just before half time when Davy Fitzgerald the Clare custodian failed to cut out Adrian Cahill’s pass. Cahill himself scored 0-3, as did Oisin O’Neill, while Raymond Dooley (line-ball) and Ronan McNamara each contributed 0-1. Johnny Dooley scored 0-8, bringing his tally over the entire campaign to 42 points (of which 24 had been from placed balls).

In between these Minor games, Dooley had been teaming up with his brother Billy on the Offaly U-21 hurling panel, who came up just short against Tipperary in the 1989 All Ireland Final. Pat Joe Whelahan coached both the U-21 and the Senior hurlers that year. Offaly had first beaten Westmeath (6-19 to 0-6), and then Laois (2-11 to 1-9) in the Leinster Semi-final. John Troy’s bravura performance in the Offaly goals kept Laois at bay. On 23 July 1989 at Portlaoise, Offaly defeated Kilkenny by 3-16 to 3-9 for their first Leinster U-21 Title since their breakthrough eleven years before. Offaly looked like they might be caught when DJ Carey got Kilkenny’s third goal, but they outscored the Cats from then on. There was no such suspense in the All Ireland Semi-final on 20 August, when Offaly exacted a measure of revenge on Antrim (5-18 to 0-9) for the shock defeat of the Senior hurlers. On 10 September 1989, some 35,000 patrons thronged O’Moore Park for the All Ireland U-21 Hurling Final. A Tipperary team that included Liam Sheedy and John Leahy won by 4-10 to Offaly’s 3-11. Billy Dooley scored 1-0 and Johnny Dooley got five points from frees. Tipperary full forward Dan Quirke scored 3-2, of which two goals came shortly before the interval when Offaly full back Damien Geoghegan had been red-carded. The Faithful County almost overturned the Tipp lead in the second half, but in a feverish finale they couldn’t quite get there.

In the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, Offaly beat Laois by 5-14 to 1-10. Nearly all of the veteran defence – Eugene Coughlan, Aidan Fogarty, Ger Coughlan and Pat Delaney – reverted to the positions in which they had won their two All Irelands. Johnny Pilkington made an impressive Senior debut at midfield, alongside Joachim Kelly. Michael Duignan was top scorer on 2-1, and next came Seir Kieran’s Joe Dooley on 1-3. Dooley would add 0-3 in the Leinster Final, played on 9 July 1989, which proved to be the margin of victory in the end (Offaly 3-15, Kilkenny 4-9). Mark Corrigan’s personal tally of three goals and seven points (0-5 from frees) was the main feature of this match. The Cats hit back for three late goals, but Offaly ended the 1980s as they had begun them – by hanging on for their sixth Leinster Title in ten years.

The second Offaly v Antrim All Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-final took place at Croke Park on 6 August 1989. In what was the shock result in hurling in the 1980s, Antrim won by 4-15 to 1-15. Ger Coughlan of Kinnitty lined out despite the tragic death of his brother Seamus (a former member of the team) in a drowning accident in Winchester, New York. Each of the team wore a black armband. Eugene Coughlan and Mark Corrigan started for Offaly despite carrying injuries. Even so, it seemed to be business as usual for much of the way, and the Midlanders reached the interval with a 1-10 to 1-6 lead. Antrim switched their burly full forward Ciaran Barr to centre forward, where he grew in influence. Offaly had not envisaged the Glensmen getting a run on them at this stage. Aidan McCarry and Olcan “Cloot” McFetridge swooped for the late goals that buried the Faithful County. In a spur-of-the-moment gesture, Offaly formed a guard of honour as the Glensmen were leaving the pitch. Tipperary would be the opposition in the Final (having narrowly overcome a Galway team still reeling from the so-called “Keady Affair”). Playing in their first All Ireland since 1943, Antrim failed to reproduce what they had shown against Offaly, and lost by 4-24 to 3-9.

Kilkenny were the heavy favorites in the following year’s Leinster Semi-final, played at Croke Park on 17 June 1990. Instead, Offaly – coached by Paudge Mulhare, with selectors Tony Murphy, Andy Gallagher, Mick Spain and Willie Gorman – won by 4-15 to 1-8. Now 33, Eugene Coughlan was once again in cool command, denying Liam Fennelly so much as an inch of space or a point on the board. 18-year-old Brian Whelahan likewise kept DJ Carey out of contention. Two other relative newcomers, Michael Duignan and Johnny Pilkington, also epitomized Offaly’s never-say-die spirit, although it was the goals from veterans Danny Owens, Joachim Kelly and Pat Cleary that really signified the rout of Kilkenny. The Faithful County advanced to the Leinster Final on 8 July 1990, and claimed the Bob O’Keeffe Cup (by 1-19 to Dublin’s 2-11) for a magnificent three-in-a-row, and seven out of the last eleven Leinster Titles.

As in 1988 and 1989, however, Offaly bowed out at the All Ireland Semi-final stage. On 5 August 1990, Galway won by 1-16 to 2-7. At a Garda match in Portlaoise a couple of weeks previously, Joachim Kelly had been stretchered off with severed ligaments to the knee. Kelly’s dynamism was sorely missed against a still-powerful Galway combination. Hopper McGrath and a rampant Joe Cooney hit 0-12 between them. Owing to their opponents’ collapse at half back and midfield, this was enough to overwhelm what turned out to have been a “last stand” for the Offaly team of the 1980s. Although players such as Jim Troy, Joachim Kelly, Paddy and Mark Corrigan, and especially Joe Dooley would soldier on for the Faithful County, Paudge Mulhare grasped that the Galway defeat signified the turning of the page:“You played it hard and clean and before the game we said that if we won we would come back into this dressing room together. We lost and we came in together. You went down like men, and be as proud leaving Croke Park today as you were the last day.”

Victory in the NHL, disappointment in U-21 and Leinster SHC, 1991 to 1993

Although the Galway game was Eugene Coughlan’s last appearance in the Championship, the Seir Kieran great again answered the call during Offaly’s victorious National Hurling League campaign of 1990-91. Johnny Dooley’s marksmanship was another key feature of the campaign. Padraig Horan had taken over as Offaly manager at this stage, and he said the aim was simply to win promotion from League Division 2. A good start was made on 28 October 1990 against Antrim in Casement Park (3-7 to 0-11), before Offaly came home to Birr to defeat Laois by 0-19 to 2-8. Danny Owens (Killoughey) got seven of his nine points from frees, while five of Johnny Dooley’s six points were from open play. Wins over Meath (0-13 to 0-9) and Derry (5-9 to 0-7) followed in November. The Derry game took place in a miserably wet Slaughtneil, where Seir Kieran’s brilliant goalie Liam Coughlan stood in for Jim Troy. Resuming at Salthill on 17 February 1991, Offaly lost to Galway by 1-11 to 0-9, in what was still a good performance. However, their chances of promotion took a real nose-dive with defeat to Down on 3 March (1-14 to 1-9). Results elsewhere fortuitously fell Offaly’s way, and the team got back on track by beating Kerry by 0-21 to 0-6. In the play-off at Drogheda on the last day of March, Offaly again met Down and exacted revenge for the earlier defeat (3-13 to 2-7).

The NHL Quarter-final between Offaly and Waterford took place at Thurles on 14 April 1991. This was the first competitive inter-county game in which Joe, Billy and Johnny Dooley (with, respectively, 0-2, 0-1 and 0-4) got on the score-sheet together. A fourth Seir Kieran representative, Liam Coughlan, came on for Jim Troy when the Lusmagh man was elbowed in the eye. Joachim Kelly’s return from injury was a big boost to the underdogs, as a very enjoyable match went to extra time. Waterford’s training over the winter was supposed to give them the edge in this scenario, but it was Offaly who advanced by 3-14 to 0-14. Tipperary were the opponents in the Semi-final, played at Limerick, and were defeated by 1-7 to 0-7. Five of Offaly’s starting forwards – Joe Dooley, Johnny Dooley, Michael Duignan, Danny Owens, and Daithi Regan – scored from play, with Duignan netting the decisive goal four minutes from time. 22,749 patrons came to Croke Park on 12 May for the League Final itself, and saw Offaly become the tenth county to win the League (and the first new name since Waterford in 1963). Wexford were on top for much of the game, but had numerous wides from distance. Offaly showed tenacity, power and raw courage, as they hunted in packs and got the most out of their own chances. With two goals from Dathi Regan (Birr), it finished Offaly 2-6, Wexford 0-10.

While winning the Faithful County’s first National Hurling League was a historic achievement, it was a case of “pride comes before a fall” so far as 1991, 1992 and 1993 were concerned. In the Leinster Semi-final on 3 June 1991, Dublin advanced by 0-19 to 1-14 as the reigning Leinster and League champions were sensationally dumped out. The Metropolitans showed greater fitness, alertness and hunger and led most of the way. Johnny Dooley’s second-half goal, fired from a 20-metre free, brought Offaly right back into contention, but it was Dublin who got the late scores to clinch it. Not since 1979 had Offaly failed to reach the Leinster Senior Hurling Final, so their supporters reacted to the final whistle with stunned disbelief. Padraig Horan the coach took the view that: “We won our first League and we have the Leinster U-21 Title. Our Senior side is still quite young and the future is bright.” However, Offaly’s defence of their League Title got off to a rocky start on 19 October 1991, when Down had five points to spare (2-17 to 2-12) to make a memorable debut in League Division 1. Offaly subsequently beat Laois at Rathdowney by 0-11 to 1-3; but lost to both Tipperary (2-17 to 1-7) and Kilkenny (0-12 to 0-10). Kevin Kinahan was full back for the Tipperary game, when Joe, Billy and Johnny Dooley brought the Seir Kieran contingent to four. Survival in Division 1 remained in jeopardy until the team drew with Limerick (Offaly 2-13, Limerick 1-16) at Birr on 22 March 1992. In a fiercely contested tie full of Offaly’s old fire, Johnny Dooley’s goal and eleven points inspired the team’s escape from relegation.

Padraig Horan was happy with the character shown in the Limerick game; but the injury-list meant that the 1992 Leinster Senior Hurling Semi-final would be all-uphill. At Croke Park on 21 June, Kilkenny eliminated Offaly by 2-15 to 1-12. Offaly kept an edge for much of the way, with points from Johnny and Joe Dooley, Brendan Kelly (Lusmagh) and Daithi Regan building on a great goal by Danny Owens. However, sending Michael Duignan on was a mistake, as he was not recovered from ligament trouble and soon had to limp off again. Kilkenny’s substitutions worked better, Christy Heffernan’s guile eventually giving them the upper hand. Billy Dooley was sent on for Offaly late on, and was unlucky with two goal chances. Padraig Horan’s tenure as manager ended with this defeat, and he would be replaced by Limerick’s Éamonn Cregan. One year later, on 30 May 1993, Offaly again came off second-best in the first round of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (Kilkenny 2-10 Offaly 0-14). Notwithstanding the red card shown for Roy Mannion’s challenge on Adrian Ronan, Offaly’s never-say-die performance deserved to overturn the reigning All Ireland champions. Michael Walsh (son of goalkeeping legend Ollie Walsh, Kilkenny’s coach that year) pulled off great saves from Adrian Cahill and Johnny Dooley. At the other end, John Power was awarded a hotly disputed penalty that DJ Carey sent to the net. At the long whistle, the relief of the Cats was palpable and Cregan’s men sank to their knees in despair.

Like their Senior counterparts, Offaly’s U-21 hurlers went from early triumph to ultimate disappointment in both 1991 and 1992. Seir Kieran’s Kevin Kinahan played at full back, while Johnny Dooley was wing forward. The Leinster Semi-final of 1991 ended all-square (Offaly 2-9, Wexford 3-6). Offaly won the replay at Nowlan Park by 1-11 to 1-9. In the Leinster U-21 Hurling Final, played at Portlaoise on 7 August 1991, Offaly sandbagged Kilkenny the reigning champions by 2-10 to 0-12. The mentors took a gamble by putting the erstwhile goalie John Troy at wing forward. This worked out very well, especially as Shinrone’s Damien Franks (still a Minor) kept a clean sheet in place of the Lusmagh man. The Offaly defence all gave brilliant displays, especially the hooking of Hubert Rigney (St Rynagh’s). Johnny Pilkington the captain received the Sean Robbins Cup (named for the time in which the great Offaly administrator had been chairman of the Leinster Council).

Offalay’s All Ireland U-21 Semi-final, played at Drogheda, turned out to be one-way traffic (Offaly 2-19, Antrim 1-8). The All Ireland Final took place at Limerick on 8 September 1991, when Offaly were blown away by Galway (2-17 to 1-9). Kevin Kinahan did noticeably well on Joe Rabbite, until the Galway man was switched to centre forward where he laid off scoring chance after scoring chance. Of the two penalties awarded to Offaly, Johnny Dooley netted the first but opted to put the second over the bar. Although over ten minutes remained, Galway were nearly out of sight by then. Many of the same U-21 panel were still eligible the following year. At Portlaoise on 28 June 1992, Johnny Dooley scored ten points against a Dublin side that were in contention all the way. Offaly were leading 0-14 to 0-11 with time almost up, when Pauric Tiernan’s long-range effort cracked off the crossbar and over to leave it a close shave. Dooley added 0-9 in Offaly’s great 1-15 to 2-10 Leinster Final win over the Cats; and 0-11 when the Midlanders had revenge on Galway in the Semi-final (Offaly 3-17, Galway 1-5). The All Ireland U-21 Hurling Final took place between Waterford and Offaly on 13 September 1992, when over 21,000 enthralled patrons crammed into Nowlan Park. It ended all-square (Offaly 0-16, Waterford 4-4) after a riveting game replete with some brilliant scores and some outrageous wides. The Deise’s goalie Ray Barry was their hero of the hour, while midfielder Johnny Brenner scored all of Waterford’s four points. In the second half, the Deise scored four goals (three of them by big Sean Daly). The last of these had Offaly chasing the game, until Brian Whelahan raced forward for the equalizer just on full-time. The replay took place two weeks later and was another non-stop display of pure hurling. At its end, however, it was Waterford who were victorious by 0-12 to 2-3. Empty-handed once more, after their third U-21 Final in four years, Kevin Kinahan, Johnny Dooley and all of their teammates were inconsolable.

County Championships of 1992 and 1993

Seir Kieran would likewise emerge empty-handed from the following two SHC seasons, and seemed to be sliding backwards at times. They began the 1992 championship in Jekyll & Hyde fashion, with a stunning 4-10 to 2-9 victory over Coolderry then a desolate 1-13 to 0-7 loss to Birr. In the third round against Kinnitty, Mick Mulrooney scored the decisive goal as Seir Kieran won by 1-9 to 0-11, although they had lived dangerously throughout this match. The next outing was on 9 August 1992, when the Clareen team beat Kilcormac/ Killoughey by 2-16 to 0-7 to guarantee a place in the play-offs. Neither could Coolderry really cope with Seir Kieran fully nine weeks later, when they duked it out for a Semi-final place. With Pat O’Connor out with a broken leg, Coolderry had few attacking options and went down by 0-13 to 1-7. On the minus side, the black and amber had 13 wides. St Rynagh’s were the opposition in the SHC Semi-final, played at Birr on 24 October 1992, and never relinquished the lead after Aidan Fogarty took an opportunist goal (St Rynagh’s 2-14, Seir Kieran 1-12).

Seir Kieran also played six matches in the 1993 Senior Hurling Championship, but did not even make the Semi-finals this time. A nail-biting one-point win over Kilcormac/ Killoughey (1-13 to 1-12) was negated by a defeat to Birr by 2-13 to 2-9. Noel Bergin reacted quickest when James Coakley’s shot came off the post, but Robbie Sheils’s net lived a charmed life after that. Brian Whelahan converted two 65’s for a telling advantage. At Rath on 13 June, Seir Kieran and Lusmagh played out a draw (Seir Kieran 2-6, Lusmagh 1-9). Victories followed against Tullamore (0-12 to 1-8) and against Drumcullen (1-15 to 0-11), but these were insufficient to avoid the play-offs. On 15 August 1993, the rampant Reds took two early goals to all but end it as a contest, and went on for a six-point victory (Lusmagh 4-12, Seir Kieran 1-15). It was a fittingly miserable end to what had been five years of failure in the quest to win back the Sean Robbins Cup.