ROSS MOLONY WAS A fitting recipient of the man-of-the-match award after Leinster’s win over Bath last night.
Even if he hadn’t put in six solid tackles, stolen a line-out and made eight hard carries in the latest of a string of brilliant performances in the second row, Molony one of two of the half dozen men making a full European debut to finish the game – and Garry Ringrose has already had his share of the the limelight.
Replacements came in droves in the minutes after half-time, and in calling Mike McCarthy ashore after 46 minutes head coach Leo Cullen was giving a clear signal that he wanted the 21-year-old to empty the tank.
Leinster list the lock at 103 kilogrammes, so he’s still very lightweight in comparison to second rows he’ll meet at the top level. Even so, the lock manages to punch well outside his division and uses his mobility and ball-handling skill to brilliant effect.
“The gym is a big focus for me this year anyway,” Molony said after leaving a victorious Leinster changing room last night.
Focused on getting bigger and, when these opportunities come around, make sure that I’m taking them and proving myself.”
At 21, Cullen seems to be making an effort to control the speed of Molony’s rise to the top. He could play him more often, but to be durable in one of the most attritional positions in rugby requires a solid base of preparation.
“(I’m) just trying to work with Ross the last number of years,” says Cullen, “adding a few little bits to his game.
“Like a lot of younger players, they need a bit of time to develop physically as well, so it’s important they get a bit of exposure and then time to work on their physiques. We don’t want them just for this season, we want them for 10 years down the line as well.
“It’s important they get tat exposure during the season, but at the same time get a chance to work on physical gains as well.”
After 80 tough minutes in the RDS, Molony will likely be taken out of the firing line for next weekend’s trip to Wasps. It would make sense to give him to time to recover, time to grow and time to gear up for the weeks ahead when Mike McCarthy and Devin Toner will be called bulk up Ireland’s pack.
Molony takes his time in assessing how he came to pick up the man-of-the-match gong last night. He is keen to avoid calling the game ‘easy’, but it was remarkable how dominant such a young Leinster pack managed to be considering their Premiership opposition.
We knew we had a tough physical challenge ahead of us. Stuart Hooper really runs the line-out well for them, it was about us getting our detail right. Getting study done early in the week and then focus on fronting up.”
“I knew after we put the work in during the week that if we stuck to our thing and got our detail right, it wouldn’t be easy, but we could get the result we wanted.
“It was definitely important for us, we knew we had nothing to lose going out there.
“There was a big focus on getting our detail right early in the week, looking at Bath, studying line-out and scrums and the young lads really stepped up.”
It’s no coincidence that among the standout players this season are players returning from the UK – Mandriou, Byrne and Parkhouse.
The league can continue to nurture and produce talent going forward. It’s not a flash in the pan.
It has its problems but talented young footballers is not one of them.
With all due respect the chap is a Northern Irish player … what is the relevance or point of the article. No disrespect to him but he isn’t ours he is an NI player.
@DB: I presume this is an all island app. It covers lots of stuff from across the border. He plays for Derry city which is situated across the border but plays in the league of Ireland. Don’t be getting too worried about it
@DB: because he plays in the LOI and is as Irish as you.
@Baz Harkin: while I don’t agree with the initial post, I don’t agree with your retort. He plays for Northern Ireland. He has the option to play for Ireland which he has not exercised. He is not as Irish as someone who would exercise that option if they had the opportunity.
@Baz Harkin: Not that I agree but the courts ruled recently that those born in the North of this country are indeed British citizens and not Irish.
@Padraig Corcoran: if you don’t agree then why post it? That decision is wrong and will be challenged. As it says inside the Irish passport and written and agreed on in the good Friday agreement anyone born on the island of Ireland is Irish.
@EnKy: he’s played for the north up to under 21 level same as James McClean and Shane Duffy does that mean they aren’t ‘Irish’ either? . So by your logic is Eoin Morgan Irish or English?
@EnKy: also look at our under 21 side it’s full of great attacking options he’s probably looked at that and decided he would stand a far better chance getting international experience playing for the north.
@Baz Harkin: Surely I can bring up something I might disagree with in principle but can still be used to make a point.
@Baz Harkin: What a way to exercise one’s patriotism…
@EnKy: what’s more patriotic than denying a young man his identity based solely on which under age football team he represents
@EnKy: What a mad post. Are you suggesting that playing for Northern Ireland means you don’t have the right to Irish identity? Is Irishness only afforded to those from the south? Or those from the north who are good enough at football to represent the south?
What’s his nationality then – is he British? Or northern Irish? Do you therefore call yourself southern Irish or just Irish?
What’s paddy McCourt’s nationality?
I’ve resigned myself to the post Celtic tiger generation knowing and caring little about the north, but to have to listen to people claim we’re not Irish because we might represent the jurisdiction created by you lot selling us down the river is hard to take
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: well said!!
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: offence was not meant. Northern Ireland is Ireland all 32 counties are Ireland . But anyone who thinks that NI football team represents or wants anything Irish has never been to Windsor park match day never seen the Para or paramilitary flags or never heard the anti Fenian chants. The football team play god save the queen as their anthem.This is their right but that’s all I meant Btw The james Mc Cleans of this world have put up with more abuse because of their Irish nationalism and I have nothing but admiration for them. Anton rogan Neil Lennon booed and death threats because of their religion is the history of IFA supporters
@DB: so would you regard Neil Lennon as Irish seeing as he played for NI
@Eamonn O Connell: yes 100% absolutely of course. But wish he had played for Republic.
Its a pity people can’t take the article for what it is without going all geo political on it, I hope the young lad does well at whatever level or whichever country he plays for