big tear in the side netting. Even so, the game was still deadlocked when Offaly were awarded a free over 100 yards out. With the last puck of the game, Paddy Kirwan heroically converted it, for Offaly to reach the Provincial decider by the very skin of their teeth. On the other side of the draw, Wexford had also advanced, to the first Leinster Final without the Cats since 1961. Eugene Coughlan was handed the number 3 jersey for Offaly – seven years would go by before any other player would wear it in the Senior Hurling Championship – while Damien Martin resumed as first-choice goalkeeper. One of the key duels was Coughlan versus the Wexford full forward, Tony Doran. Early on in the match, amidst a thicket of hurleys that swung on an incoming Wexford ball, Doran went down with a badly gashed forehead and had to be substituted. However, this remained a hum-dinger throughout, as twice Offaly were getting on top and twice Wexford hauled it back. Despite Colm Doran finding the net, from a long-range free two minutes from time, it was Offaly's calmness and self-belief that won out. Damien Martin pucked to Pádraig Horan in midfield, who sent sweetly to Johnny Flaherty and over the bar, to make it 3-12 to 2-13 at the long whistle. The Leinster Champions won direct passage to the All Ireland Final, played on 6 September 1981. The opposition were defending champions Galway, who had overcome Munster champions Limerick in the Semi-final (following a replay). The official attendance of 71,384 (the highest in 18 years) saw Offaly win their first Senior Hurling Title. Galway made the play for long spells, and the Offaly defence absorbed huge pressure. Eugene Coughlan at full back kept John Connolly scoreless, and it was the same for Joe Connolly when he was switched to full forward. Pat Fleury likewise neutralised Bernie Forde, to round out a flawless campaign in which none of Fleury's direct opponents scored at all. At the other end, Pat Carroll's knee-high shot beat Galway goalkeeper Michael Conneely to keep Offaly in touch, notwithstanding Galway's first-half dominance. However, this was a team performance with each line of Offaly's formation sticking to the game plan. They were as disciplined as they were tenacious – whereas Joe Connolly converted six times from placed balls in the first half, Offaly conceded just one free after the