upset. Their no-nonsense brand of ground hurling similarly overcame Antrim at Corrigan Park, Belfast to win out Division 1B and advance to the Quarter-finals. Against Wexford at Nowlan Park, the rank outsiders overturned the reigning Leinster champions by 1-12 to 1-8. Pádraig Horan (St Rynagh's) dominated at centre back, while Pat Delaney (Kinnitty) was unerring from placed balls. In the League Semi-final against Clare, at Thurles on 10 April 1977, a 2-15 to 0-7 defeat brought Offaly crashing back to earth; and another costly lesson was learned in the subsequent Leinster Senior Hurling Championship. On a Mullingar pitch made slippery by non-stop rain, Offaly were miles off the pace as Dublin eliminated them by 3-10 to 2-8. Some measure of revenge was exacted by the winning of Offaly's first Walsh Cup against Dublin (7-7 to 1-7), the following 4 December at Birr. Eugene Coughlan's brace of goals were a highlight of an Offaly performance (for those who were there to see) of revelatory force. Breakthrough at U-21 level Success finally came in 1978, when the Offaly Under-21 hurlers annexed the Leinster Title that had narrowly eluded them in 1972. Noel Bergin at corner forward and Joe Mooney at wing back represented Seir Kieran. Wins over Carlow (4-17 to 1-6) and Wexford (5-9 to 1-10) set up a Leinster Final clash with Laois, at Carlow in July 1978, and a 2-14 to 2-7 victory. Jim Troy (Lusmagh) was goalkeeper, and Brendan Keeshan (Shinrone) was captain. Offaly progressed to their first-ever All Ireland U-21 Semi-final – and a bitter 2-14 to 2-7 defeat at the hands of a Galway squad whose hurling bore a more authoritative stamp. Despite this sequel, to have made a breakthrough at the consistently excellent U-21 grade could only be a tonic for Offaly hurling. The Senior team could not emulate the U-21s in 1978, submitting meekly to Kilkenny (2-17 to 1-4); but they would pull out all the stops the following year. Administration and Coaching Fr. Sean Heaney was chairman of the Offaly County Board at this stage, while John Dowling continued his long service as secretary. Two new assistant secretary posts (with responsibility for hurling and for football) were created. In 1978, Seir Kieran's Tony Murphy was elected to the hurling secretary role, in which capacity he would make a singular contribution to the County's success. Persistent and bold experimentation was now a watchword for Offaly