He teamed up with Pat Henderson to take charge of the Kilkenny senior hurling team in 1979. It was a successful year for the duo as Kilkenny qualified for the provincial decider. A 2–21 to 2–17 defeat of Wexford secured the Leinster crown. Galway provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final on 2 September 1979, however, the game turned out to be one of the least exciting finals of the decade. A goal by Noel Lane after forty-seven minutes gave Galway a two-point lead, however, Galway failed to score for the rest of the game. Kilkenny, on the other hand, scored two long-range goals to secure a 2–12 to 1–8 victory. This victory gave Keher and Henderson All-Ireland victories as both players and as coaches.