Senior success in 1948. Good wishes were also extended to Fr. Michael Troy, a member of the panel about to set sail for Africa. Although the team made little headway the following year, the club took great heart from Seamus Mulrooney's brilliant displays with Offaly in the 1948 Leinster Minor Hurling Championship. The Leinster Final was held at Tullamore on 11 July, where Offaly let slip a 0-6 to nil half time lead, and lost to Kilkenny by 5-2 to 3-6. Junior success 1950 to 1969 During the 1950s emigration reached a staggering rate. A tragedy on the playing field in June 1952, when young John Dooley of Clashroe, Roscomroe was fatally injured by an accidental blow to the head when playing for Seir Kieran, further shook the club's confidence in the future. The mentors managed to rally the team, who beat both Tullamore and Birr to reach the Senior Hurling Final for the first time since 1939. At St Brendan's Park on 31 August 1952, they were beaten by Drumcullen by 9-11 to 4-3. Despite this outcome, Seir Kieran sustained their Senior challenge both in 1953 (when Coolderry had to be at their best to overcome them) and in 1954 when they reached the Semi-final (before again going down to Coolderry). By 1955, though, the club could not muster 15 Senior players, and so had to concede a walkover to Shannon Rovers in the Championship. The following year at Intermediate grade, the club joined forces with neighboring parish Kinnitty whose demographic situation was just as dire. The amalgamated team, known as St Flannan's, won through to the 1956 Intermediate Hurling Final against Ferbane on 16 September 1956. St Flannan's (wearing green and white) emerged victorious by 4-7 to 4-1. Promoted to Senior grade in 1957, St Flannan's were heavily defeated in their opening match to Shannon Rovers – a result which put an end to the Kinnitty-Clareen combination. Consequently, it was again under the Seir Kieran banner that the Clareen men fielded in 1958, and won passage to the 1958 Junior Hurling Final. Delayed until 8 March 1959, this Final saw Seir Kieran defeating St Columba's (Durrow) by 4-6 to 1-1. 1958 was the Parish's fourth Title at Junior grade, and was crucial in boosting morale after the big setbacks during the decade gone by. A reporter for the Midland Tribune described the challenge that this posed to the