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. Lifting the Bob O'Keeffe Cup, 1980 and the Liam MacCarthy Cup, 1981 Victory in Leinster, 1980 The Leinster Senior Hurling championship of 1980 was the first to take place under the "Open Draw" system, meaning that Kilkenny and Wexford would no longer be kept on different sides of the draw. Offaly were trained by Andy Gallagher (Tullamore) as well as Dermot Healy, and the other selectors were Tommy Erritty (Coolderry), Charlie Daly (Na Piarsaigh), Mick Spain (Drumcullen) and Paudge Mulhare (St Rynagh's). Offaly's campaign began at Portlaoise with a 2-10 to 0-12 victory over Laois. Damien Martin's hand injury led to his replacement by Seir Kieran's Noel Bergin, and the other two Clareen players were Eugene Coughlan and Joe Mooney. The Semi-final took place on 8 June 1980, when Offaly beat Dublin (despite an eye injury to Mark Corrigan) by 0-18 to 0-10. The Faithful County were through to their first Leinster Senior Hurling final since 1969, with Damien Martin and Kinnitty's Johnny Flaherty the only players to bridge the gap. The opposition was again Kilkenny, and they also fielded two