JOHN MULDOON ADMITS it will be strange trying to fashion a Connacht defeat this evening, but he believes this pre-season game in Bristol (kick-off 19.45) is the perfect way to complete the severance of his link with his native province.
Muldoon, who brought the curtain down on his 15-year playing career with Connacht the end of last season, has moved to Bristol where he has taken up a role as defence coach in the management team headed up by Pat Lam.
Bristol, the big spenders in the Premiership after being promoted in May, will host Connacht at Ashton Gate this evening before opening their league campaign against neighbours Bath next weekend in a tie that has already sold over 20,000 tickets.
Muldoon said that the transition from player to coach has not been too difficult and that his role as captain over the years ensured he had an insight into the demands involved.
“It’s been good, I have settled in well. It’s been a matter of trying to get to know everyone but the fact that there are a good few ex-Connacht players and management there has helped the process.
The biggest worry I had is that I would miss playing so much but I have enjoyed the switch. The days are much longer, the time and the load you have to out in as a coach is much greater but I would have been aware of that.
“It’s good working with Pat and the lads again. As captain I would have been privy to a lot of things in Connacht so that has helped with the transition from player to coach,” said Muldoon.
There is a sizeable Connacht contingent now with Bristol. Lock Aly Muldowney and flanker Jake Heenan were both members of the Pro12 winning side, while backs coach Conor McPhillips and head of fitness Paul Bunce moved with Lam having master-minded Connacht’s greatest day in Murrayfield two years ago.
It has been a hectic period for Muldoon. He finished his playing career landing a conversion in a 47-10 hammering of Leinster at the Sportsground, a few days later his wife Lorna gave birth to their first child Scott and then a couple of weeks after that Muldoon moved to Bristol.
The Muldoon family have set up home in Bristol and pre-season has been busy but he knows that it will be a bit surreal this evening trying to plot the downfall of a Connacht side that he went into the trenches with for a decade and a half.
“It will be strange coming up against all the familiar faces, I’ve never played against Connacht in any shape or form. But I think it will be good for me, to break that cord with Connacht.
“I’ll never forget Connacht, I’ll always be looking out for them every week but now I’m with Bristol and that’s where the future is.
“Everything moves on in professional rugby. Already there is a new coach in Connacht, a new captain and several new players that I have never met. The reality is that I was only another player in Connacht.
“I’m very proud of the fact that I spent so much time with Connacht as a player but the reality is that they have to move on and it’s the same with me,” he added.
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Come on you boys in blue!
Up da dubs.
Jesus, looks like just saying you support the Dubs is enough to get you red thumbed. Anyway, everyone hates us but we don’t care. COYBIB!!
CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
Come on Kerry. Anyone But Dublin
Fantastic display from the Dubs,welcome home Sam!
Come on the dubs!!!
Come on you boys, come on you boys in blue!!!
Who are the 4 muppets on RTE 2 arguing over nothing?
I know!! Everybody wants to see the best play in a final and a Kerry v Dublin is like The Spanish El Clasico!!!
Did they lube the pitch up with baby oil before this match? Shlippin’ and shlidin’ all over the place
Come on Dublin.
Tis a slipping and sliding match.
When I seen the photograph of the woman and baby accompanying this article I thought it was going to be another migrant/refugee story!
It’s a refugee free day!! Beer and maybe a leg over later if Dublin win!!
I’m off the drink but I’ll take you up on the offer of the leg over.
Might be some consolation after the hiding Tipperary got in the minor game
worst allireland final in my living memory. Very very poor.
Puke.
The boys on RTE just after mentioning how both teams have played limited division 1 opposition,to put that into perspective Donegal who were knocked out of the championship in the Q/F have played more Div 1 teams than both Kerry and Dublin combined.
They won’t get any all-stars either despite the lop-sided draw they came through. Perhaps Durcan – had a terrific year.
It’s a very unfair system. Ulster teams get a raw deal there’s no disputing that
Best team won in the end.
Dublin have the better squad, Kerry have the better management. Kerry by 2.
Jack Kerry are not that strong !!!
…Stick to the day job Michael
Na I work nights
Looking like the Dubs having the better on the sideline as well so far, cooper bring dragged up and down the field and o Sullivan getting in on the scoring Gooch too far out from the goals
Wouldn’t completely agree, Kerry’s shooting has been absolutely woeful. When playing Dublin you have to take your chances. 8 wides(?) in 35 minutes is inexcusable in an AIF,
Congrats Dublin, the better side on the day
They should get rid of them clowns up in the studio and stick O’se and Whelao up there.
Come on utd
Carney already has O’Donoghue as his man of the match..
Never understood why they call it football. It should be called handball.
Because the foot kicks the ball? Derp!
Because it’s played on foot! The same reason Association Football is called football, American football is called football and rugby is called rugby football. The more you know *spreads hands in star motion*
Good game so far considering the conditions.
A.B.D
Deserved victory for Dublin, adapted to the conditions better and were unquestionably the better team on the day..faif pay to them..poor quality final..poor championsip.. (from the perspective of a neutral)
Well done best team won in the end to be honest it should hav been a bigger margin and they really should have three in a row by now by far the best team over the last three to four years.
Well done boys!! Up the Dubs!!
Martin carney is getting worried that Dublin might actually win
Dublin being a bit wasteful early on when they’re in shooting distance of a goal
Looks like donaghy is togged to start?????. Let the games begin
Get Paul Flynn off the pitch and this game would be put to bed.
I must have been at a different match . Paul Flynn was my man of the match