Seir Kieran 1996-97 At the Offaly GAA Convention for 1996, Seir Kieran won the accolade of "Club of the Year" for the second time. In accepting the Fr. McWey Cup, Michael Murphy the club chairman stressed that Seir Kieran were just as proud of their part in the success of Offaly hurling. The Offaly Senior Hurling Championship of 1996 was defined, so far as Seir Kieran were concerned, by lop-sided victories over Belmont and Ballyskenagh and by four no-holds-barred matches against Kilcormac/ Killoughey. These comprised: an exciting second-round match that finished Seir Kieran 1-10, Kilcormac/ Killoughey 0-13; an unexpectedly easy passage in the play-offs (Seir Kieran 1-11, Kilcormac/ Killoughey 1-3); another draw (3-12-all) in the Semi-final on 22 September 1996; and a definitive 0-14 to 0-7 win in the replay six days later. With the Double-K's shaken off at last, Seir Kieran contemplated the prospect of a historic Double of their own – assuming they had enough left in the tank to handle St Rynagh's in the Final. The punditry reckoned St Rynagh's would do it this time, having kept the Birr danger-men under wraps in the other bruising Semi-final. However, several of the Banagher camp, such as selector Alo Horan, were much more cautious than that: "Seir Kieran were victorious last year because they wanted it more than we did. While some of their lads might not be all that skillful, they all have great spirit and would die for their parish. Certainly they will go out and give it everything on the day." Despite the cross-field gale and the cascading showers on County Final day itself (13 October 1996), Seir Kieran did indeed give it everything, defeating St Rynagh's by 0-13 to 1-8 to put Senior Hurling Titles back-to-back. The black and amber deployed as follows: Liam Coughlan (goalie), Paul Scully, Kevin Kinahan, Paddy Connors, Damien Murphy, Ger Connors, Kieran Dooley, Joe Dooley, Noel Bergin, Johnny Dooley, Mick Coughlan, Mick Mulrooney, Billy Dooley, Eugene Coughlan, Seamus Dooley, and substitutes Kieran Kealey and Jimmy Connor. It was their eighth appearance in the decider in 12 years, of which they had now won three. County Board chairman Brendan Ward presented the Sean Robbins Cup to a delighted Liam Coughlan. On 24 November, Coughlan would also collect the Pat Carroll Cup, after Seir Kieran defeated Kilcormac/ Killoughey in the 1996 SHL Final by 1-12 to 0-6. In the interim, Seir Kieran's