Struggle for consistency

Offaly hurling’s trajectory in the later 1970s, like that of Seir Kieran, seemed to be a case of two steps forward, one step back. By 1975, future All Stars Pat Fleury (Drumcullen) and Joachim Kelly (Lusmagh) were regulars on the Senior team, while Kieran Mooney represented Seir Kieran. A somewhat laboured 1-14 to 0-11 win over Kildare set up a Leinster Senior Hurling Semi-final clash with Wexford. By the interval Offaly were being beaten stupid,mdespite Kieran Mooney getting the game’s only goal from play; but in a scintillating third-quarter display, Offaly raised nine white flags in 17 minutes. However Wexford maintained their long-range sniping (all six Wexford forwards and their two midfielders scored at least twice) and prevailed by 1-29 to 1-18. The Offaly Minors, including several Seir Kieran players, were making slow but significant progress as well, and ran Wexford close in the Leinster Minor Hurling Semi-final of 1976 (2-15 to 4-8).

During the National Hurling League of 1976/77, Offaly began to demonstrate the strength and depth of their hurling revival. Defeating Wicklow and Laois and drawing with Waterford in close, tough pre-Christmas matches, they began the New Year by beating Westmeath then taking Galway by 2-6 to 1-5 in a major upset. Their no-nonsense brand of ground hurling similarly overcame Antrim at Corrigan Park, Belfast to win out Division 1B and advance to the Quarter-finals. Against Wexford at Nowlan Park, the rank outsiders overturned the reigning Leinster champions by 1-12 to 1-8. Pádraig Horan (St Rynagh’s) dominated at centre back, while Pat Delaney (Kinnitty) was unerring from placed balls. In the League Semi-final against Clare, at Thurles on 10 April 1977, a 2-15 to 0-7 defeat brought Offaly crashing back to earth; and another costly lesson was learned in the subsequent Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.mOn a Mullingar pitch made slippery by non-stop rain, Offaly were miles off the pace as Dublin eliminated them by 3-10 to 2-8. Some measure of revenge was exacted by the winning of Offaly’s first Walsh Cup against Dublin (7-7 to 1-7), the following 4 December at Birr. Eugene Coughlan’s brace of goals were a highlight of an Offaly performance (for those who were there to see) of revelatory force.

Breakthrough at U-21 level

Success finally came in 1978, when the Offaly Under-21 hurlers annexed the Leinster Title that had narrowly eluded them in 1972. Noel Bergin at corner forward and Joe Mooney at wing back represented Seir Kieran. Wins over Carlow (4-17 to 1-6) and Wexford (5-9 to 1-10) set up a Leinster Final clash with Laois, at Carlow in July 1978, and a 2-14 to 2-7 victory. Jim Troy (Lusmagh) was goalkeeper, and Brendan Keeshan (Shinrone) was captain. Offaly progressed to their first-ever All Ireland U-21 Semi-final – and a bitter 2-14 to 2-7 defeat at the hands of a Galway squad whose hurling bore a more authoritative stamp. Despite this sequel, to have made a breakthrough at the consistently excellent U-21 grade could only be a tonic for Offaly hurling. The Senior team could not emulate the U-21s in 1978, submitting meekly to Kilkenny (2-17 to 1-4); but they would pull out all the stops the following year.

Administration and Coaching

Fr. Sean Heaney was chairman of the Offaly County Board at this stage, while John Dowling continued his long service as secretary. Two new assistant secretary posts (with responsibility for hurling and for football) were created. In 1978, Seir Kieran’s Tony Murphy was elected to the hurling secretary role, in which capacity he would make a singular contribution to the County’s success. Persistent and bold experimentation was now a watchword for Offaly management and mentors, as they sought to break the Wexford-Kilkenny stranglehold on the Bob O’Keeffe Cup. One such expedient was to try Pádraig Horan at No. 14; while the erstwhile full forward Eugene Coughlan was switched to defensive duties from 1978 onwards. In the National Hurling League of 1978/79, Offaly showed themselves to be on a par with anything else in Leinster. Drawing with Clare in the opening round – an important result for Offaly following their dismal Leinster Championship exit – they next faced Wexford in Gorey and recorded a victory that still stands apart. With a Seir Kieran contingent of Eugene Coughlan at corner back, Joe Mooney at wing back and Kieran Mooney at corner forward, Offaly battled back from an 11-point half time deficit to prevail by 2-17 to 0-17. Although less spectacular, of even more significance was the third round victory over Kilkenny (3-10 to 2-6), at Birr on 29 October 1978. Although repeatedly foiled by Damien Martin’s goalkeeping, Kilkenny did gain sway for 15 minutes of the second half. But Offaly, with Eugene Coughlan now at centre back, reasserted themselves towards the end of a hard-fought, fair, no-holds-barred encounter and a notable victory.

Éamonn Cregan’s personal tally of 2-7 for Limerick in the fourth round, at Ennis on 12 November 1978, in itself would have been enough to dispose of Offaly. However, another stirring Offaly performance resulted in a draw against Galway in bitterly cold late November conditions. Eugene Coughlan kept Noel Lane out of contention. The teams were level seven times, with Kieran Mooney’s point tying it up with just seconds to go. Defeat to Waterford at Dungarvan in February 1979 did not derail Offaly’s advance to the League Semi-Final against Tipperary. Although concession of too many frees again cost Offaly dear, this was an exciting and competitive encounter, with Paddy Kirwan (Ballyskenagh) converting a last-minute free despite the huge tension, to leave it all square (Offaly 4-8, Tipperary 1-17).

This form was not maintained in the League Semi-final replay at Croke Park on 15 April, which Tipperary easily won. This was not the best prelude to encountering Wexford in the Leinster Senior Hurling Semi-final, fixed for Athy on 24 June 1979. Nonetheless, the casual beginning to this match gave way to a thrilling climax, when gallant Offaly went down by the minimum. Offaly began with an all-Seir Kieran half back line of Joe Mooney, Eugene Coughlan and Kieran Mooney, with Coughlan in particular doing many fine things at centre back. Lusmagh’s Joachim Kelly played a powerful game at midfield, while of the forwards, Pat Carroll (Coolderry) posed the greatest threat. Offaly had their noses in front in the closing stages, but conceded the frees that allowed Buggy to level for Wexford; then Casey pointed from Tony Doran’s ’65, and Wexford advanced by 0-17 to 2-10.

Although this slender defeat was a big setback, the National Hurling League of 1979/80 again indicated that Offaly were not far off. One man playing close attention was Monsignor Tommy Maher of Thomastown, who had revolutionised the coaching of hurling from his base at St Kieran’s College. The Monsignor was instrumental in persuading Dermot Healy, of the Conaghy Shamrocks Club, to take up the position of Offaly coach in November 1979. On 18 November in Nowlan Park, Offaly had a signal victory (2-9 to 3-4) over Kilkenny, proving that their October 1978 win had been no flash in the pan. Eugene Coughlan was in great form at midfield; Pádraig Horan scored both of Offaly’s goals; and newcomer Mark Corrigan (Kinnitty) continued to impress. By this stage Offaly (along with Galway) had become the longest-surviving team in League Division 1. But the Leinster Championship remained the real test.