Development of the club facilities

The Seir Kieran primary school pictured in late 2005, before the rebuilding of 2007-2009. The original school room is to the back and the 1983 extension is in the foreground.

At the club’s AGM in January 1982, Mick Corrigan of the Racepark was asked to chair a committee looking after the Field Development Scheme. By the close of 1982, the club had also built dressing rooms complete with showers and toilets, put a paling around the field, and installed goalposts and nets. The overall effort received welcome recognition in May 1982, in a presentation to Leinster GAA clubs that took place in the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny. Seir Kieran were nominated as Offaly’s “Club of the Year in Section C”. Chairman Tim Mulrooney and secretary Mick Murphy accepted the award, and attributed the success to the progress made in promoting underage hurling as much as to the work on the facilities. For example, during the 1981 Féile na nGael event in Birr, Seir Kieran had played host to young hurlers from Antrim whose club chairman subsequently recorded his appreciation:”A Chara – I refer to the Offaly Hurling Festival for underage players which was held on the 15th to the 17th of May inclusive. This competition was an outstanding success; the precision-like manner in which it was organized was a tribute to Mick Spain and his able helpers. It was the privilege of my club to have been invited to participate in this Féile and it was most inspiring to see so many juveniles from all over Leinster display the skills of our national game. Our players were the guests of the Seir Kieran Club and its people. I wish to express our sincerest thanks to V. Rev. Seán Collier, PP, Tim Mulrooney and Michael Murphy, Chairman and Secretary respectively of the Seir Kieran Club, and the host families for their extreme kindness. Our players were overjoyed by the reception they received and they will always treasure the weekend they spent in the friendly homes of Clareen. Mise, le meas – Arty Pyke (Chairman)”

A projected rise in population led to an IR£60,000 extension to the Seir Kieran National School, officially opened in March 1983 by Dr Laurence Forrestal, the Bishop of Ossory. The Board of Management at that time consisted of Mrs. Bernie Dooley, Mrs. Nóirín Coakley, Mrs. Mary Mulrooney, and Mr. Jack Ryan. A year later, the redeveloped GAA pitch was officially opened on Monday 4 June 1984. The Minor hurlers of Offaly and Galway provided the curtain-raiser for a “friendly” between the Senior teams of Offaly and Clare (which the visitors won by 1-12 to 1-11). John Dowling, a future GAA president, gave the keynote speech. “The time has now come”, said Mr. Dowling, “for Seir Kieran to promote Gaelic Games on a higher scale than ever before”.

County Semi-Finalists 1984; County Finalists 1985 and 1987

On 2 October 1983, a Seir Kieran juvenile selection coached by Michael Connolly (Kinnitty) beat St Saran’s in the final of the Offaly U-16 Shield. Birr’s Brother Vincent presented the trophy to team captain Kieran Dooley. The following year, a school team captained by Mark Featherstone won the Bord na Scol competition, and got medals specially engraved for the GAA Centenary Year. A “back to back” Bord na Scol title came in 1985 (when Kieran Abbott was captain), and the team received medals presented by Offaly football’s goalkeeping hero Martin Furlong. It was a foretaste of success to come with St Brendan’s Community School; with the Offaly Minors and Seniors; and with the Seir Kieran Club itself.

The Seir Kieran panel who won the Offaly Juvenile (U-16) Hurling Title of 1983

In their crunch SHC encounter with Coolderry in 1982, Seir Kieran were still leading with ten minutes to go, when they ran out of steam (Coolderry 4-13, Seir Kieran 3-7). Seir Kieran were generally in better shape in 1983. On 29 May, Eugene Coughlan (2-5) and rising Offaly star Joe Dooley (3-1) powered a victory over Killeigh. However, they were beaten by Lusmagh at Rath on 17 July, meaning that the third round match against Coolderry would again be make-or-break. This one ended at 11 points apiece, and the replay on 7 August also finished all square (1-12 to 1-12). Coolderry shaded it extra time by 2-19 to 3-15. The three Clareen goals were scored by Eugene Coughlan, Seamus Coakley and Martin Breslin; nonetheless that was curtains so far as 1983 was concerned. Seir Kieran opened their 1984 SHC campaign with a stunning 3-18 to 2-4 victory over Drumcullen. The second round was at Rath, where Lusmagh went down by 2-10 to 0-9. In the third round against Kinnitty, 16 points (half from frees) were not enough as the reigning champions racked up 3-12, to advance to the last four. A second semi-final slot was now up for grabs between Seir Kieran and Shinrone. This play-off was delayed until 9 September 1984. Joe Dooley scored nine points of a 0-14 to 1-5 victory, as Seir Kieran advanced to their first Senior Semi-final since 1954. As crafty and battle-hardened as ever, St Rynagh’s overcame a Clareen team who were on top for long periods, but were not fit enough to close it out. Trailing 1-10 to 1-4 in the second half, the Shannonsiders hit an unanswered 1-5 to pip them at the post.

Seir Kieran’s trainer for 1985 was Pat Spain of Kinnitty, a first-rate hurler during his own playing days. There were four other selectors – Sean Dooley, Tony Murphy, Seamus Kealey and Eugene Coughlan. Their first round encounter with St Rynagh’s, on 28 April 1985, reversed the verdict of the previous Autumn (Seir Kieran 2-10 St Rynagh’s 0-12). However, Seir Kieran again lived dangerously, before clinging on to a lead they had built up early on. The Midland Tribune editor James “Bud” Burke colorfully described the scene:“The swash-buckling buccaneers from the good ship Seir Kieran boarded the St Rynagh’s prize ship on the windy Rath sward and fighting a strong battle they subdued the opposition. However the defending St Rynagh’s lads rallied and looked like repelling all boarders but Seir Kieran held on and finally hoisted the Jolly Roger.”

This remained the pattern during Seir Kieran’s four subsequent wins in the championship – over St Saran’s (2-8 to 2-3); Shinrone (3-7 to 1-7); Drumcullen (3-8 to 2-9); and a (not yet fully amalgamated) Kilcormac/Killoughey team (2-11 to 2-4). The Semi-final took place on 29 September 1985, and Seir Kieran at last defeated Coolderry when it mattered (1-13 to 0-13). Jimmy Connor’s goal and several fine Joe Dooley points put them into their first Senior Final in one third of a century. As with Drumcullen in 1952, however, they encountered a Kinnitty side who were not to be denied their three-in-a-row of Offaly Titles. Paddy and Mark Corrigan scored a combined 3-12 of Kinnitty’s 3-18, and Seir Kieran only scored 2-8 in reply. It was a chastening experience for the black and amber; but it was clear that their longer-term graph was still pointing upwards. The disappointment was partly assuaged by the All Star Awards won by Eugene Coughlan in both 1984 and 1985 – the first such accolades to come to Seir Kieran. Coughlan was also awarded the 1985 Texaco Sports Star Award for hurling, joining a glittering 1985 line-up including Jack O’Shea (Gaelic football), Dennis Taylor (snooker), Pat Jennings (soccer), Barry McGuigan (boxing), Joey Dunlop (motorcycling), and Sean Kelly (cycling).

Seir Kieran’s misfired 1986 SHC campaign was a big setback. A 2-13 to 1-11 defeat to Lusmagh did the main damage to the 1985 County finalists, leaving them dependent on results elsewhere to make it as far as the three-way play-offs. These forlorn hopes did not materialize, leading to some straight talking at the AGM for 1987 (the club’s 100th year in business). Eugene Coughlan was appointed trainer, and the selectors were Mick Murphy, Johnny Breslin and Liam Corcoran. It was the Junior panel, selected by Michael Connolly, Tim Mulrooney, Mick Coughlan and Mick Mulrooney, who would bring home silverware in 1987. There were jubilant scenes at Kilcormac on 3 May 1987, when Seir Kieran defeated Daingean and team captain Johnny Breslin lifted the Junior Hurling League Cup. As they had done in 1985, meanwhile, the parish’s Senior team reached the County Final undefeated. However, although their defence had become very cohesive, the attack was over-reliant on Joe Dooley. A 2-13 to 0-13 first-round win over Birr was followed by hard-fought victories over St Rynagh’s (2-4 to 0-9) and Lusmagh (3-12 to 1-7). Seir Kieran next overcame Kinnitty by 1-14 to 1-11 in the Semi-final in September. Centre back Mick Coughlan’s long-range points had a demoralizing effect on Kinnitty. In the County Final itself, however, Seir Kieran again lacked the guile to prevent St Rynagh’s move into the lead in the 54th minute. Team captain Noel Bergin and substitute Kieran Dooley had had to go off injured. There were still only three points in it when Eugene Coughlan’s late rasper flew just over David Hughes’s crossbar, to leave it St Rynagh’s 0-11 Seir Kieran 0-9. Defeat felt more devastating even than in the 1985 County Final, because the Clareen men had had the winning of this match.

Re-capturing the Leinster Crown, 1984

Mick Coughlan and Joe Dooley represented Seir Kieran in the Leinster U-21 hurling championship in 1982. Offaly beat Westmeath in Tullamore by 3-15 to 1-7 in the Semi-final, with Coughlan scoring 2-0 and Dooley 0-5. Although Dooley added 0-4 in the Final in Carlow, three rapid-fire Kilkenny goals killed off the match before half time (5-20 to 2-6). In the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, the reigning champions overcame Wexford by 2-16 to 3-12 in an enthralling and grueling opening round. Offaly showed their composure when Wexford went a goal ahead in the closing stages. Pádraig Horan’s brace of pointed frees and Paddy Kirwan’s point from play leveled it, then Kirwan sent over the winner from a brilliant sideline cut deep in the shadow of the Cusack Stand. The Semi-final against Laois was another pulsating game, ending all-square at 3-14 apiece. Pat Delaney was misplaced at corner back and Pat Carroll at midfield, and Offaly shot 21 wides. There was no such experimentation in the replay. Eugene Coughlan suppressed Laois full forward PJ Cuddy and also set up many attacks, as Dermot Healy’s men won by 2-17 to 0-14. A fortnight later, on 25 July 1982, it was a very confident Offaly team that returned to Croke Park seeking the three-in-a-row of Leinster Titles. This intriguing Offaly-Kilkenny duel settled into a tight and dour affair. Nonetheless Eugene Coughlan, who allowed not an inch to the quick-turning and tricky Liam Fennelly, seemed to epitomize Offaly’s cool control of this match.

Eight minutes from full-time, however, when goalie Damien Martin was tracking a Kilkenny ball that seemed to have gone over the end line, the umpire stayed where he was. The referee didn’t whistle for a puck-out either. Liam Fennelly deftly flicked the ball to between the posts, where Matt Ruth was arriving to tap to the empty net for the only goal of the game. Con Houlihan subsequently wrote of the umpire: “I doubt the good man enjoyed a hearty dinner last evening”. Nonetheless, even from his usual vantage-point on the terraces at the Canal End, Houlihan himself could not definitively say whether the ball had crossed the line. Offaly were still on level terms after conceding the goal, but sent wide from two subsequent frees. Kilkenny scored two late points to re-claim the Bob O’Keeffe Cup by 1-11 to 0-12. It was a bitter derailment for an Offaly side which was then at the peak of its powers.

In March 1983 Aidan “the Boo” Rosney of Birr, collapsed and died while training with his Offaly teammates in Tullamore. He was 19 years old, and one of Offaly hurling’s most exciting and stylish prospects. It was a saddened yet determined squad which advanced to the 1983 Leinster Final against the Cats, by virtue of a 1-20 to 0-11 Semi-final win over Dublin. Kilkenny had a more clear-cut 1-17 to 0-13 victory this time, although Offaly’s first-time ground hurling was a delight to watch and at no stage were they out of contention. Early in the second half Kilkenny’s number 14, Christy Heffernan, switched to left corner forward with Liam Fennelly moving to full forward. Each of the Offaly defence followed his opponent; but with the masterful Eugene Coughlan drawn out of position, Kilkenny now had sea-room. Offaly’s own switches in attack did not work out on the day, and Paddy Corrigan’s goal was disallowed. In a re-run of 1982, Kilkenny would go on to defeat Cork in the 1983 All Ireland Final.

Eugene Coughlan, Joe Dooley, Noel Bergin and Mick Coughlan were the four Clareen men on the Offaly Senior panel for the 1984 campaign, which began on 17 June with a 2-11 to 1-11 Leinster Semi-final win over Dublin. Pat Delaney was out through injury, resulting in the Offaly defence being under constant pressure. Joe Dooley, who otherwise would have started, was also injured. Padraig Horan was just back from his unsuccessful run for the Dáil seat left vacant by the untimely death of Mr. Ber Cowen (which was won by the late T.D.’s son Mr. Brian Cowen, a future Taoiseach). Horan didn’t score himself but he did unsettle the Dublin defence. In the second half Eugene Coughlan was taken off injured and a fighting Dublin side finally began to make inroads. However the Sky Blue challenge deflated after their second penalty was stopped, lifted and cleared by Aidan Fogarty, all in the one fluid motion in the teeth of the charging Dubs.

In the thrilling Offaly v Wexford Leinster Senior Hurling Final on 8 July 1984, Joe Dooley made his Championship debut and scored 0-2. In all, nine Offaly players found the range, each score proving vital to a 1-15 to 2-11 victory. The decisive goal was scored by Padraig Horan. For Wexford, one point was all that Tony Doran was able to prise out of the rock-like and imperturbable Eugene Coughlan at number 3. Coughlan, as well as midfielder Tom Conneely (St Rynagh’s), got a particularly rousing reception when the new Leinster Champions arrived in Birr at midnight. This form was continued in a 4-15 to 1-10 All Ireland Semi-final win over Galway (5 August 1984 at Thurles). Joachim Kelly’s power and pace at midfield set the tempo. Joe Dooley’s 2-3 made him top scorer, but overall this was an emphatic team performance; and Offaly were seen as having the edge ahead of the Centenary All Ireland against Cork. The unaccustomed “favorites” tag did not sit well with the team management. Mindful of Cork’s great comeback in the Munster Final, Tony Murphy queried: “Just how good were Galway? If I knew that I’d be happier.”

On 2 September 1984, Cork comprehensively won the All Ireland Final by 3-16 to 1-12. Offaly’s scorers were Mark Corrigan (1-2), Pat Carroll and Pat Delaney (0-4 each), and Padraig Horan (0-2). Denis Mulcahy kept Joe Dooley well shackled (although, of the 32 hurlers in action that day, Dooley alone would take part in the brace of classic Offaly v Cork All Ireland Semi-finals at the close of the Century.) Seanie O’Leary (2-1),John Fenton (0-7) and Tony O’Sullivan (0-6) were the chief scorers for Cork, and they did the main damage when Offaly faded out in the third quarter. Eugene Coughlan kept Jimmy Barry-Murphy scoreless (ensuring that he would be nominated for Seir Kieran’s first All Star Award that Autumn). Nonetheless, it was a somber and downcast Offaly panel that departed Semple Stadium. Their County saw things differently. “WELCOME HOME TO OFFALY’S OWN HEROES”, ran the Midland Tribune’s banner headline over a picture of a thronged and appreciative Emmett Square that night.

Re-capturing the McCarthy Cup, 1985

The disappointments of Offaly’s previous three campaigns, coupled with the continued belief of their supporters, made for an uncommon determination to win back the McCarthy Cup in 1985. Even so, they nearly lost the opening round of the Leinster Championship on 23 June, which ended Offaly 3-18, Kilkenny 3-18. Pat Delaney at centre back did most to hold Offaly together in the first half, while Mark Corrigan’s 1-2 made him Offaly’s top scorer from play. Nonetheless, when Christy Heffernan palmed the ball past Offaly’s new custodian Jim Troy (Lusmagh) to put Kilkenny up 3-11 to 1-8, the Leinster Crown seemed to be slipping away. Only then did the defending champions (including Seir Kieran’s Eugene Coughlan, Joe Dooley and Mick Coughlan) pull out all the stops. From a free awarded outfield and to the left, Paddy Corrigan caught Kilkenny napping by going for goal and making it. With a quarter of an hour to go, Pat Delaney lifted another massive free, doubled on by Joachim Kelly for a beautiful goal that set up the most gripping of grandstand finishes. Although Kilkenny regained the lead, another coolly taken Paddy Corrigan free tied it up. The replay on 14 July was another thrilling and sparkling game, with the difference that Offaly kept the whip hand throughout. Eugene Coughlan blotted out Christy Heffernan, Aidan Fogarty kept tabs on Liam Fennelly, while Pat Fleury also reasserted himself. Offaly won by 1-20 to 0-17, and their scorers were Paddy Corrigan (1-11, 0-7 frees), Pat Carroll (0-3), Pat Cleary (0-3), Mark Corrigan (0-2) and Danny Owens (0-1).

The Seir Kieran panel that reached the Club’s first Offaly Senior Hurling Final since 1952, on 13 October 1985.

This was only the second time in a century that Kilkenny had been locked out of consecutive Leinster Finals, and the first time since 1948 that both Kilkenny and Wexford were gone before mid-July. The Leinster Final took place between Offaly and Laois on 21 July 1985, and resulted in an Offaly victory by 5-15 to 0-17. Dermot Healy’s selection exuded confidence and dominated in every sector, especially at full back where Eugene Coughlan restricted Laois’s PJ Cuddy to a single point. When Offaly had taken to the field the old Stadium shook with cheers. Laois had tremendous support as well, and went down fighting. Offaly’s captain Pat Fleury took the Bob O’Keeffe Cup over to Matt Connor immediately. 25-year-old Connor, perhaps the Faithful County’s most outstanding footballer of all time, had been badly hurt in a car crash on Christmas Day 1984.

On 3 August 1985, the Leinster Champions went to Monaghan Town, preparatory to their All Ireland Semi-final encounter, across the border in Armagh City, the following day. Weather conditions were atrocious, although this did not impede Offaly’s emphatic victory over Antrim (3-17 to 0-12). Pat Carroll lined out at number 11, but was soon replaced by Declan Fogarty. (This would turn out to be the last glimpse of Pat Carroll on the hurling field). In Croke Park, 90 miles to the south, Galway were meanwhile de-throning the Rebels in a pulsating game, setting up a repeat of the classic decider of 1981. The Final took place at GAA Headquarters on 1 September, and saw Galway tearing into the game at a frantic pace, only to squander many scoring chances. Ten of Galway’s 19 wides came in the opening 20 minutes. Having absorbed ferocious pressure, Offaly settled into their own game-plan. Eugene Coughlan kept Galway full forward Noel Lane from repeating the damage Lane had done against Cork. Brendan Bermingham effectively marked another of Galway’s Semi-final stars, 21-year-old Tony Keady (who had lost his father that August). Padraig Horan at full forward distributed very effectively, and the other Offaly forwards tacked on points when it mattered. Midway through the first half, Joe Dooley raced in to hand-pass past Galway custodian Peter Murphy, only for it to be adjudged a square infringement. However, Pat Cleary darted through to score two crucial goals, the second of which (early in the second half) seemed to put Offaly in the driving seat. Then PJ Molloy at wing forward and Joe Cooney at midfield initiated a comeback by the Tribesmen. When Michael “Hopper” McGrath lobbed a ball in, Molloy leapt highest before rifling a sublime goal to the roof of the net. Another Galway goal, from Joe Cooney’s long-range effort, was not given when Jim Troy let fly to clear the ball from just inside his goal-line. Brendan Keeshan was introduced to take on Cooney. The mentors made wholesale switches in the closing stages, and Offaly emerged victorious by 2-11 to 1-12.

The Irish Independent deemed the two-point winning margin to be “a fair and factual summary of seventy minutes of hazard and hope.” Dermot Healy said that he had had no doubts, because “the attitude was right”. In evoking the absence through illness of Pat Carroll, Offaly County Board chairman Paudge Mulhare said: “You have won an All Ireland for Pat. This is for him and I thank you for that.” The McCarthy Cup’s return to the Faithful County was as memorable as it had been four years before, not least in Seir Kieran where the Offaly panel (including four parishioners, Eugene and Mick Coughlan, Joe Dooley and Joe Mooney) had a raucous reception on Tuesday, 3 September 1985. Over the following two years, there would be equally heartening triumphs at Colleges and Minor level, and Clareen players would feature in each case.

Lifting the Dr. Croke Cup and the Irish Press Cup, 1986 and 1987

The passing of Pat Carroll in March 1986, at the age of 30, came as a big blow to Coolderry and to Offaly. It also signified the break-up of the team that had delivered four Leinster and two All Ireland Titles in six short years. Offaly remained a force to be reckoned with, however, and in June 1986 they beat Laois by 1-23 to 4-9 to qualify for the Leinster Final. When Laois began to get the upper hand, Joe Dooley was switched to midfield and turned in a “man of the match” performance. The same tactic was not effective in the Final itself. With Jim Troy and Aidan Fogarty out through injury, League champions Kilkenny swamped the Offaly defence and won their 51st Leinster Title by 4-11 to 1-11. Only 0-5 of the Offaly total came from play. Pat Delaney’s twice-taken penalty closed the gap to five points, but this would be Offaly’s last score. Pádraig Horan’s retirement the following winter opened another gap in Offaly’s attack formation.

Apart from Martin Hanamy (St Rynagh’s) and Seamus Coughlan (Kinnitty) the Faithful County had few fresh faces to call on for the 1987 campaign. On 31 May 1987, Offaly showed craft and character to beat Dublin (2-18 to 1-13), exemplified by Joe Dooley’s left-handed swing connecting to score the decisive goal – but the team failed to score in the last 18 minutes. Similarly, Laois had Offaly on the rack for much of the Semi-final. Jim Troy had to be brilliant between the posts. Eugene Coughlan and Aidan Fogarty combined well under heavy pressure, as the Faithful County won out (1-16 to 0-13). 29,133 spectators were in Croke Park when Offaly contested their eighth Leinster Final in a row in warm August sunshine. They were chronically short of attack options and only scored 0-3 after the break. For Kilkenny, Christy Heffernan almost single-handedly dislocated Offay’s half back line. Liam Fennelly’s goal and midfielder Ger Fennelly’s hail of points ensured that the Cats prevailed by 2-14 to 0-17. While it was demoralising to have lost the Leinster Final twice in a row, the success being garnered by Offaly’s youth teams held out the prospect of better days to come.

Seir Kieran’s Ger Connors was corner back on the St Brendan’s Community School team that reached the 1985 All Ireland Colleges Senior Final, losing to the North Monastery in a replay (4-11 to 1-5). The Community School went one better in 1986, with a stunning 5-8 to 1-8 victory over “the North Mon” in the All Ireland Final, played out on 27 April 1986 at Portlaoise. Billy Dooley (1-1) and Aidan Mulrooney represented Seir Kieran. Team captain Michael Hogan (Birr) lifted the Dr. Croke Cup. The captaincy passed to Billy Dooley the following year. In the Leinster Colleges Final against St Kieran’s College Kilkenny, played at Portlaoise on 22 March 1987, a gallant St Brendan’s team were beaten by 4-8 to 3-9. Billy Dooley scored 1-7 and his younger brother Johnny scored 1-0. Johnny Pilkington of Birr scored another goal, while Brian Whelahan, also of Birr, was corner forward. For the Kilkenny boys, Adrian Ronan lined out at corner forward while D.J. Carey came on as a substitute in the second half.

The Community School provided the bulk of the Offaly team that won the All Ireland Minor Hurling Final in 1986. The first round against Kilkenny resulted in a 2-8 to 2-8 draw. A breathtaking replay on 1 June saw Offaly prevail by 3-9 to 4-5. Having beaten Dublin 2-10 to 0-7 in the Semi-final, Offaly won their first Leinster Minor title on 13 July 1986 against Wexford (4-7 to 1-5). The All Ireland Semi-final against Galway (10 August at Thurles) was another wonderful match, which went down to the wire despite the more comfortable-looking 3-13 to 2-10 score-line. It was back to Croke Park on 7 September, where Offaly triumphed over Cork by 3-12 to 3-9 to claim the Irish Press Cup. After 20 minutes Cork’s Rory O’Connor was red-carded for a second bookable offence, yet Cork might still have won. It took sublime finishing by Declan Pilkington to beat the Rebel goalie Paddy Barry. In the end, though, a spirited Offaly side deserved their victory. At the Seir Kieran buffet in the County Arms Hotel in February 1987, presentations were made to Billy Dooley and Aidan Mulrooney on having brought to the club its first All Ireland hurling medals at the Colleges and Minor grades.

Offaly successfully defended their Minor Title the following year. Billy Dooley scored three lovely points from play in Offaly’s 3-16 to 2-9 win over Wexford. Damage to the Croke Park pitch, sustained during a U2 concert that summer, led to the postponement of the Leinster Minor Final. In the interim, Offaly deployed four of their Minor panel in the Under-16 Hurling Championship at Nowlan Park – a day-long 15-a-side “blitz” competition starting with nine teams. With Johnny Dooley and Kevin Kinahan of Seir Kieran, Offaly won out this U-16 All Ireland by beating Kilkenny North 1-4 to 0-1. When the Leinster Minor Final against Kilkenny did go ahead, at Croke Park on 2 August 1987, Offaly’s fast-moving and nippy team gave a great display in which not one of them stood back, and were utterly deserving of their 2-13 to 0-12 victory. Billy Dooley at centre forward scored 1-0, while Johnny Dooley lined out beside him at left half forward. The All Ireland Semi-final took place two weeks later at Dundalk, where Offaly beat Antrim by 4-17 to 1-4. Johnny Dooley and goalie John Troy were the only non-Birr players in a “magnificent seven” Offaly defenders. (Dooley was switched to the forwards in the second half).

In the All Ireland Minor Hurling Final on 6 September 1987, Offaly beat Tipperary by 2-8 to 0-12, to become the first Minor hurlers since Cork in 1978/9 to put All Ireland titles back-to-back. Johnny Dooley lined out at left half back, while Billy Dooley started at centre forward but scored 0-2 when switched to wing forward. When Tipperary stretched their lead early in the second half, Offaly never let their heads drop and their direct first-time hurling eventually paid off. Thomas Moylan the captain hoisted the Irish Prress Cup, which the team took on a slow “victory march” through the County. They were mobbed at Edenderry, Daingean, Tullamore, Kilcormac and finally Birr, where Paudge Mulhare said that Offaly hurling’s future had never looked so bright as it did that day.