sufficient support, either among the players or at the County Board, to stay in the saddle. He was replaced by Michael Bond of Galway, who had coached the Galway U-21 hurlers to an All Ireland in 1983. Offaly's first "back door" match was the All Ireland Senior Hurling Quarter-final against Antrim. Due to the sectarian violence that racked Northern Ireland that July, very few Antrim supporters came to Croke Park for this game. Offaly won by 2-18 to 2-9, and advanced to the All Ireland Semi-final with everything to prove. The defending champions, Clare, were also on a mission, as the disciplinary action taken against Colin Lynch (after the Munster Final against Waterford) left them feeling hard done by. The result was a contest of gladiatorial intensity, that finished Offaly 1-13, Clare 1-13. Back at Croke Park on Saturday 22 August, Offaly lined out wearing black armbands in memory of Paudie Mulhare's father, who had died that morning. (Ger Oakley started at midfield in place of Mulhare.) The Bannermen gave a more assured display than the previous week, and were ten points ahead at one stage. Offaly's drastic switches of personnel helped them to find their rhythm, and to rattle Clare in the closing stages. They were still three points behind when referee Jimmy Cooney blew it up – after only 32 minutes and 54 seconds, or five minutes sooner than the referee had intended. He tried restarting, but several players were leaving the pitch and too many supporters were milling around. (In the subsequent weeks, abusive, cowardly and anonymous phone calls would be made to the referee's family home.) The upshot was a sit-in on the pitch by up to 3,000 Offaly supporters, so the Kerry v Kildare U-21 'B' hurling final had to be abandoned. This demonstration upped the ante on the Games Administration Committee, and deepened the bonds between the Offaly panel and its fan base. On the other hand, – and notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 137 of the Official Guide – the decisive factor was Clare's sportsmanship in not disputing the decision to stage the contest a third time. This would cost them dearly at Semple Stadium the following Saturday, when it was Offaly who prevailed by 0-16 to 0-13. IR£200,000 of the proceeds of this game went to help those hurt or bereaved by the Omagh Bombing. Joe Dooley was both top scorer and