FORMER MUNSTER SECOND-ROW Trevor Hogan has lashed out at the province’s fans for jeering fly-half Ian Keatley during their 31-19 loss to Leicester in Thomond Park on Saturday night.
Keatley was replaced with less than 10 minutes remaining following a day the Dubliner would probably rather forget in the red of Munster.
“It’s absolutely unjustifiable,” Hogan told Newstalk’s Off The Ball of the jeering. “The fans that did it have to look hard at themselves. Are you a real Munster person because what you did there was worse than anything that has happened in Thomond Park ever? It was just disgraceful.
“If you are a supporter, that is a line you do not cross – no matter what sport, not even the lowest of the low.
“The only thing that is lower is racism or sexual harassment. That is pathetic.”
Hogan was particularly disappointed as a Munster fan himself, and someone who has a lot of respect for what he considers to be a very clued-in crowd.
“The Munster fans are the most passionate and knowledgeable fans around and that’s why it’s even more disappointing to hear that.
“It’s the opposite of support. You’re nine points down. There’s still a chance to get a bonus point. There’s still a chance to win the game.
“To send that message … You just look at the faces on the players who are already off the pitch, they can hear it and they’re giving Keatley an extra tap of the back.
“You talk about the unity of the fans and the players. It’s got to be rigid. It’s got to be unbreakable, no matter what happens on the field, unless it’s outrageously bad.
“He’s trying everything. He missed one really bad one (kick) but you can see in his face how hard that was for him to take, and subsequently it leads to the Goneva try.
“But to kick him when he’s down like that and to come out with these pathetic excuses I’m hearing… I love the Munster fans, I’m a Munster man, I’m a fan, but I would never dream of doing that.”
It’s John Delaney that should be put in row z !!!
He is overrated & not in the top 50 in the world in my opinion…. I’m all for people loving themselves but this guy takes it to the narcissistic zone.
He’s an amazing player. granted he’s not in the real top elite Ronaldo /Messi level but he’s easily in the top 50. A complete narcissist but every bit as good as he thinks he is.
He’s won a league title in 9 of the last 10 years, being the top scorer for his club in 9 of those seasons!! He’s a world class striker, easily top 8 players in the world!