- final ▁at ▁Now lan ▁Park ▁proved ▁a ▁bridge ▁too ▁far . ▁On ▁ 2 9 ▁November , ▁R ath n ure ▁beat ▁the ▁Off aly ▁standard - b ear ers ▁by ▁ 3 - 1 1 ▁to ▁ 2 - 8 . ▁Non eth eless , ▁the ▁year ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁stands ▁among ▁Se ir ▁K ier an ' s ▁fin est , ▁as ▁was ▁well ▁expressed ▁in ▁a ▁message ▁from ▁Car rig ▁& ▁River st own , ▁another ▁rural ▁club : ▁ ▁" Well ▁done ▁to ▁Se ir ▁K ier an ▁on ▁winning ▁the ▁County ▁Final ▁in ▁Bir r ▁last ▁Saturday . ▁A part ▁from ▁being ▁un l ucky ▁in ▁last ▁year ' s ▁Final ▁they ▁have ▁now ▁won ▁four ▁Championships . ▁They ▁give ▁great ▁hope ▁for ▁the ▁surv ival ▁and ▁the ▁future ▁of ▁small ▁clubs ." ▁ ▁Los ing ▁the ▁crown ▁– ▁Se ir ▁K ier an ▁and ▁Off aly ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁Se ir ▁K ier an ▁reached ▁another ▁Off aly ▁Junior ▁Hur ling ▁League ▁dec ider . ▁Although ▁they ▁lost ▁to ▁L us mag h ▁in ▁the ▁Final ▁( 4 - 7 ▁to ▁ 3 - 6 ), ▁their ▁batt ling ▁display ▁aug ured ▁well ▁for ▁the ▁fast - appro aching ▁champion ships . ▁Se ir ▁K ier an ' s ▁defence ▁of ▁their ▁Senior ▁Title ▁opened ▁on ▁the ▁first ▁of ▁May , ▁with ▁a ▁ 3 - 7 ▁to ▁ 0 - 1