Susan Hated Literature

There are moments in sport that will live forever. As a small country we don’t get too many of them, so they are so much more important. Ronnie Delany’s gold medal in the 1956 Olympics. The 1978 defeat of the All Blacks. Sonia O’Sullivan. Ray Houghton, whether against England or Italy. Paul McGrath’s almost one-man defence in that Italy match. Course there also some that live forever for all the wrong reasons. Sonia O’Sullivan. Roy Keane.

But today can go down for all the right reasons. Because Munster won. 23-19

The match started out with disaster as Biarritz scored a try within the first three minutes. And yes, replays showed that Bobo had a foot in touch, not once but twice. And maybe if we lost I’d be complaining. But we won, so I can say that, sure these things happen in rugby matches.

Munster have been on the hunt for this cup for many years now. Captain Anthony Foley has played in 76 of Munster’s 77 European Cup matches for Munster^[1] and others in this team have been waiting 10 years to lift this trophy. So they weren’t about to drop the heads. Three minutes gone means you still have 77^[2] left in which to make your comeback.

And they did. Fantastic placekicking from Ronan O’Gara, and two great tries. One from South Africa Trevor Halstead and the other a great piece of work from Stringer. Who’s saying he shouldn’t be on the team now?

Overall it was a fantastic match. Full of tension, and with estimates of up to 70,000 Munster fans in the Millenium Stadium there was plenty of atmosphere. The big screen in the stadium also flashed up an image of the supporters back home in Limerick watching on Europe’s largest YV screen, a fact which at least some of the players mentioned in their post-match interviews.

This game had it all. Skill, passion, tries, points, tension, atmosphere. Man getting hit in groin by head, poor Jerry Flannery. Everything. A great day. And an even better result.

Check out The Limerisk Blogger for more images and youtube video. And of couse the BBC photo gallery, and I’m sure there are plenty more bloggers out there covering it.

Related posts

• It’s about who we are, and where we come from, the people you meet on the streets (13)
• You are my sunshine - Redux (5)
• Paul O’Connell sleeps with the lights on because the dark is afraid of him (7)
• New Zealand had superior teams to the opposition in the past few World Cups but they faltered because they lacked the essential spirit that Munster demonstrated (5)
• We had dreams and songs to sing (10)

The countdown has begun.

And I can honestly say I’m more nervous about this match than any other match/sporting event I’ve ever watched. Maybe because Irish teams don’t tend to get to finals.

I know Irish teams get to the All-Ireland finals, but in that case I’d be cheering for Sligo, and they never get there. Although I do cheer on Limerick in the hurling and Galway in the football, but it just isn’t the same thing.

I suppose watching Cian O’Connor in the Olympics was similar, although there was no hype, because show-jumping aint exactly a sport that gets huge coverage on the telly. The switch on when there is a chance we’ll win. But switch off again as soon as that gold medal has slipped away. Although the whole drugs thing did make Cian a recognisable name throughout the country. But raising a sport’s profile through the illegal use of drugs is hardly a good thing.

Anyways, only a few hours to go now

Related posts

• It’s not our destiny. We’ve got to go out and bloody work for it. (5)
• Upon his knee a pretty wench And on the table a jug of punch (19)
• Paul O’Connell sleeps with the lights on because the dark is afraid of him (7)
• New Zealand had superior teams to the opposition in the past few World Cups but they faltered because they lacked the essential spirit that Munster demonstrated (5)
• It’s about who we are, and where we come from, the people you meet on the streets (13)

Yes, yes, everything has gone red. I can see that. But I did warn you earlier in the week^[1] in 8 days we’ll be getting ready to see Munster play Biarritz in the European Final, so the blog is dressed up in support. I’m not too sure about the header though. That stag looks a bit yella doesn’t he? I may be too lazy to find a replacement though, we’ll see.

In other news, Amazon.co.uk have turned all mean. I’ve never really liked shopping there as we never get any postage discounts, but every now and then I’d be willing to fork out the extra dosh for something. Only now they’re starting to reduce what they’ll let us buy, as Michele Neylon points out Games, Electronics, and Gift items will no longer be shipped to the Republic. Which is odd, don’t you think. Still, I prefer Play anyway. They have free shipping and have a pretty good selection of stock. The discussion on Amazon can also be found on DOB-blog and Tuppenceworth, where the legal aspects are also being discussed^[2]

Related posts

• We had dreams and songs to sing (10)
• It’s not our destiny. We’ve got to go out and bloody work for it. (5)
• Paul O’Connell sleeps with the lights on because the dark is afraid of him (7)
• New Zealand had superior teams to the opposition in the past few World Cups but they faltered because they lacked the essential spirit that Munster demonstrated (5)
• It’s about who we are, and where we come from, the people you meet on the streets (13)