Seir Kieran next beat Na Piarsaigh to reach the 1977 Losers' Group Final; only to slump to defeat (3-8 to 0-11) to Killeigh at Tullamore. Seir Kieran opened their 1978 campaign with a win against Shinrone. In the second round they met St Rynagh's. Although they beat Killeigh in the third round (4-11 to 1-3), this only led to a tame exit to Coolderry (1-10 to 0-8, of which 0-7 was scored by Kieran Mooney). Late 1970s In 1979, St Rynagh's bested Seir Kieran by 1-17 to 1-3 in the opening round, at Kilcormac on 5 August 1979. A St Rynagh's official expressed relief at the result saying: "When we get over that hurdle, other teams don't present quite the same problem." Seir Kieran beat Killeigh by 2-6 to 1-4 in the next round, despite each side going down to 14 men after hurleys and fists flew. It was a much more disciplined and cohesive Clareen team that fielded in St Brendan's Park for their last competitive game of the 1970s, on 26 August 1979. Seir Kieran beat Drumcullen by 3-11 to 0-9. Seir Kieran and the rise of Offaly, 1975 to 1979 Struggle for consistency Offaly hurling's trajectory in the later 1970s, like that of Seir Kieran, seemed to be a case of two steps forward, one step back. By 1975, future All Stars Pat Fleury (Drumcullen) and Joachim Kelly (Lusmagh) were regulars on the Senior team, while Kieran Mooney represented Seir Kieran. A somewhat laboured 1-14 to 0-11 win over Kildare set up a Leinster Senior Hurling Semi-final clash with Wexford. By the interval Offaly were being beaten stupid, despite Kieran Mooney getting the game's only goal from play; but in a scintillating third-quarter display, Offaly raised nine white flags in 17 minutes. However Wexford maintained their long-range sniping (all six Wexford forwards and their two midfielders scored at least twice) and prevailed by 1-29 to 1-18. The Offaly Minors, including several Seir Kieran players, were making slow but significant progress as well, and ran Wexford close in the Leinster Minor Hurling Semi-final of 1976 (2-15 to 4-8). During the National Hurling League of 1976/77, Offaly began to demonstrate the strength and depth of their hurling revival. Defeating Wicklow and Laois and drawing with Waterford in close, tough pre-Christmas matches, they began the New Year by beating Westmeath then taking Galway by 2-6 to 1-5 in a major