level, Seir Kieran also had a new coach, Michael Connolly of Kinnitty (who had previously coached the Clareen U-16's to a county title in 1983). This was just one more sign of how tightly the fortunes of Seir Kieran and Offaly had converged. Club and county would both win a long-odds Senior Championship in 1998, be knocked off their perch in 1999, and claw back into the Final in 2000. In the National Hurling League in the Spring of 1998, Offaly avoided a relegation play-off against Kilkenny only by virtue of a better scoring record than had Antrim. Mitigating factors were Johnny Dooley's knee trouble, and the absence of the Birr contingent (which again lifted the Tommy Moore Cup on St Patrick's Day). Although the injury situation had reached crisis proportions by the first round of the championship, Offaly beat Meath with 32 points to spare (4-28 to 0-8). This was a good tee-up for the crucial Leinster Semi-final. At Croke Park on 14 June 1998, a heart-stopping game of swaying fortunes again looked to be shaded Wexford's way. However, the Slaneysiders would come to rue their nine first-half wides, as Offaly's vastly-improved teamwork in the second half brought them within range. Paul Codd's ninth point put Wexford two clear, leaving Offaly no option but to go for broke. On 69 minutes, Johnny Dooley's strike found its way through a crowded goalmouth to the net, and Wexford were eliminated by 1-15 to 0-17. Notwithstanding Offaly's fortuitous victory, dissent was still brewing over Babs Keating's coaching regimen. This consisted mainly of Johnny Murray's physical training drills, rather than hurling practice (although the physical fitness undoubtedly stood to Offaly later on in the year). On 5 July 1998, Offaly's 15th Leinster Senior Hurling Final appearance since 1980 resulted in a poor performance against Kilkenny, and a 3-10 to 1-11 defeat. The Cats were not at their sharpest either, but got over the finish line with two converted frees by DJ Carey (who had retired from inter-county hurling and then changed his mind). As the "back door" system now gave a second chance to beaten provincial finalists, Offaly were still alive. However, Babs Keating's post-match comments to the press, in which he disparaged his side's commitment, incensed several of the panel. Johnny Pilkington became their spokesman by giving a press interview of his own the following day. It became clear that Keating lacked