Murray Kinsella reports from London
NOTHING WAS GOING to stop Keith Earls from doing his lap of honour with his two beloved daughters, Laurie and Ella May.
Limping heavily and clearly exhausted after another brilliant performance for Ireland over 73 minutes, the Limerick man wanted to soak in every moment of the Grand Slam success in Twickenham.
Everyone involved with Ireland was obviously delighted, but this will have felt a little bit more meaningful to Earls.
He was part of Ireland’s wider Six Nations squad way back in 2009 when they won Ireland’s second Grand Slam, but he was never involved on the pitch that year.
Earls later had to watch on as Ireland won Six Nations titles under Joe Schmidt in 2014 and 2015, his injury troubles robbing him of the chance to earn medals with Ireland as a member of the starting XV.
Because whenever he has been fit, Earls has been a key man for Schmidt – underlined by his sheer brilliance over the course of this year’s Six Nations.
I spoke to Earlsy briefly, and I said to him, ‘This would be your third if you had just glued yourself together a bit earlier,’” said Joe Schmidt post-match at Twickenham yesterday.
“It wasn’t for me lacking the want to pick him, it’s just that he had a few mistimed injuries and that can happen to a player.
“It was fantastic to have him and for him to get his due reward. He’s been really super for us, and I don’t just mean on the pitch.
“I think that’s very visible on the pitch, how sharp he looks, but also off the pitch. He really leads by example, he’s very professional in what he does, prepares really well, communicates well with those younger players.
“He’s certainly been a catalyst for some confidence and improvement in that back three.”
Taking care of his own performances first has been key for Earls and while he has done so much unglamorous hard work of the kind that Schmidt loves, the Munster man has also had some stunning moments.
His leap and gather of Johnny Sexton’s cross-kick before the famous drop goal in Paris stands out, as does the tap tackle yesterday, while his footwork to destroy Leigh Halfpenny against Wales and his sensational track-back tackle in the dying moments of the win over Italy are also snippets for the highlights reel.
Athletically in a better place than he has ever been, the 30-year-old has been devastatingly good for Ireland.
As Schmidt stressed, Earls has been influential around the squad too and, so happy with his family life, entirely comfortable in speaking up and helping others.
“Incredibly important,” says 21-year-old try-scoring sensation Jacob Stockdale when he’s asked what kind of influence Earls has had on him since coming into the Ireland set-up.
“Me and Earlsy have played on the wings together since my first cap. To have that experience on the other side of the pitch, him telling me what I need to do, it’s invaluable.
“He’s a great guy, I love the bloke as well.”
20-year-old Jordan Larmour, who came on at outside centre for Ireland yesterday, echoed Stockdale’s sentiment.
“He’s been massive,” said Larmour. “Anything I need help with, him and Rob Kearney, everyone really, if I have a question, I’ll just go to them and ask them.
“Even looking at they go about their work and how they play, I try take some of that into my game.”
The big concern for Munster fans is how badly injured Earls is – with their Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulon on 31 March now looming in view.
Schmidt said afterwards that Earls wasn’t bouncing around the changing room with the rest of the players, “but he’s not a bounce-around guy, only on the pitch, which he does a good job of.”
It remains to be seen how serious Earls’ injury is but for now the sheer happiness Ireland’s players, coaches and supporters have to see him finally earn his Six Nations medal as a key starting player is palpable.
As he limped around Twickenham with his two daughters – one on his shoulders and the other holding his hand at one point – it was impossible not to share in the feeling.
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Rte coverage today ….
The panel reckon the attendance has dropped at gaa matches cause Dublin are to dominant ….
No maybe the numbers of supporters going to see the gaa has dropped due to the fact that the real fans who go to all games cant get a ticket for the all Ireland finals n find it extremely hard to get tickets for seni finals due to the GAA being so money hungry when it comes to the biggest games in there calendar year they are more concerned of sponsor forgetting free tickets to give to staff that probably dont even support the GAA at all
@Ian O’Rourke: i don’t think there are 40k sponsors looking for tickets. No one has interest. Sunshine supporters or diehards.
@Ian O’Rourke: it’s because Dublin are too dominant. I used to go to all the games but haven’t been to a Leinster match in a good few years now. Club champo is far more entertaining these days, and the quality you see in the Dublin champo isn’t far below intercounty either. Breaking up the club season for the intercounty champo is annoying, but that’s at the feet of Dublin GAA. And in all my time going to club games I don’t think I’ve had to sit through a half as boring as I’ve just watched either.
@Ian O’Rourke: Ah that’s a load of crap you can get tickets. For the semi finals on tickets.ie no problem most people I know that go to the matches have season tickets.
Not unless your a FG TD/Senator demanding a ticket for the final,Yet they probably did not bother their ass going to the league matches in February.
@Winston Smith: why was cork & kerry have empty its not because Dublin are great.its because tickets are to expensive for what your watching
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: sponsors dont only get 1 ticket each ….
@Winston Smith: no it’s not its cause Gaa are money hungry and dont care bout genuine supports who stand on the hill in February on a freezing cold Saturday night
@Ian O’Rourke: genuine supporters are out supporting their club in September and October, and those genuine supporters have no problem getting tickets for all Irelands through their clubs. You think you deserve a ticket to an all Ireland just cos you traipse to Croker for a league match? No mate, the people who deserve the tickets for the big games are the people who train the kids for the small games. With that sense of entitlement you should look for a FG seat in the Seanad.
@Winston Smith: what n absolute fool the the point of my comment went out the window with you but sure after all with a name like Winston what would ye expect
@Ian O’Rourke: you’re a fair weather fool with a sense of entitlement. Go back to the soccer where your type belong. Real GAA fans aren’t people who think they’re great for going to a few league matches, real GAA fans are people who get up every Saturday to train kids and involve themselves in the GAA. You know why you can’t get tickets for the big games? Because you’re not wanted in the GAA, your kind exist purely to be shaken down for a few bob every now and again, and like the rest of them you’re too stupid to even realise that’s all you are. See you at the final in August mate. Oh no, I wont, you’ll be on your bar stool for it! Hahaha
Brutal match
Awful pity Kevin McStay is’nt still managing a county team! It would spare us all the pain of listening to his co-commentary on The Sunday Game!
@Joe L: Hear hear
Can’t wait to stick it to the Dubs. About time they were knocked off their perch.
@This Guy:
That might be one of those comments that looks really silly come full time.
@This Guy:
@This Guy: you will regret that comment
@This Guy: it’s football not farming
@This Guy: either pure sarcasm or pure optimism.
@This Guy: why is it about time they were knocked off their perch? They work their butts off to be where they are. Maybe your county team needs to work a bit harder.
Dublin didn’t always win. Please remember that ye green eyed monster.
Up the DUBS
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Dublin didn’t always have the lions share of investment from gaa hq either. But they are a serious team that work their arses off. Like every county team.
@This Guy: Dublin gets everything
@This Guy: winning all Ireland after all Ireland is great, but something more simple and enjoyable in hammering meath. Does anyone like meath?
@Milk The Drones: looks stupid now
Meath need 33 mins to score
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Excuse me, I’m actually from Dublin. I was referring to the team.
@Richard O’Brien: they earned and deserved everything Can you imagine GAA (or Ireland for that matter) with no
Dublin
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: keep up the good work and be a proud Dubliner
@Ian O’Rourke: That sounds like a threat. Reported.
@This Guy: sounds a bit sopranoesqe
@This Guy: in all fairness he means that you will regret it when you see the final score
@Milk The Drones: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha the match was crap but ha ha ha ha ha
@This Guy: ha ha ha ha cabbage
@This Guy: how did that turn out for you
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: and they bring in the most income for the GAA.
Get off the high horse already!!!!!!! Sore losers
@This Guy: you’re a dreadful Dub so.
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: and the head honchos realised that and threw more dollars behind them in the hope that they’d get an all Ireland or two and in turn make the gaa a little richer. And now that has backfired to a degree.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: you haven’t a clue pal. Just stop already
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: The GAA have created a monster and now they can’t control it. I’d say they are regretting putting €16 million into Dublin over the last 10 years !!
Rte calling the 1st half interesting, are they having a laugh, that was absolutely dirt
Hopefully it’s not one sided
@Steve O’Reilly: it’s always one sided, one side of boggers, and DUBLIN
@Zerolife TwentyThree: yeah the pale vs people who wanted their independence..
@Zerolife TwentyThree: someone has to feed ye gluttonous shower of sh 1tes.
@Ave it: they don’t call them union jackeens for nothing
@Ave it: bullseye!!!!
Love the rte biased commentary
@Con O’Hannrachàin: rte don’t touch the ball
@Anthony Doyle: have you listened to the commentary it’s woeful.
This is a like a basketball game
I’m watching it and it’s absolutely dire…
What an awful game
@Irish Freedom Now.: pitch is like a bloody ice rink
Great game of sideways ball
Is there nothing to be said for saying another mass!
Meath playing well in the defense! The forward line has been shocking. Big improvement needed.
Same issue here in limerick for next week’s Munster Final. Terrace tickets sold in shops before they checked on demand from clubs. Club my partner is a member of got 66 tickets with over 100 looking for them and she’s been at all the games other than one since December sitting at games with 1000 attending. Luck in the draw for the tickets tonight her only way of getting one.
@Chris Enright (Garden Fresh Veg): just get a season ticket.
I’d have rather watched Love Island..
How the hell did Meath get to a Leinster final
South meath will still feel like they are in with a chance
@Andrew Tuite: if they run into north Dublin
What a terrible game, Meath 4 points over 70+ minutes, Cavan lost by scoring 2-16 and donegal being touted as serious all Ireland contenders
Dreadful game.
Poor performance by both sides but more so from Meath. Tepid, looked like they were preparing themselves for qualifiers. Seemed like they were kicking it wide on purpose. Either really bad game management or a con (next game will tell)
Meath will be picked off by a decent team
Legends
Attendances are down because you can’t get tickets to the semi final or the final. Simple as that.
As a fan who has not to attend a game in years because of the trouble around getting tickets to come semi-final & final time.
I watched on Sunday my next door neighbours heading off in brand new Dublin kits to attend the game with 4 adults and a 7-year-old who was her first game ever and not once have I ever hear them speak about support Dublin all years.
All the local clubs who support and are Training young boys and girls to be the future players for the team struggle to get enough tickets for club members and players.
But yet Once or twice a year fans stroll into a newsagent or get given tickets for game is a very big problem with how tickets are shared out.
I would agree with Ian O’Rourke I have seen and gotten emails of tickets been offered in the workplace to people who jump on the bandwagon come final time.
As a fan who has not to attend a game in years because of the trouble around getting tickets to come semi-final & final time.
I watched on Sunday my next door neighbours heading off in brand new Dublin kits to attend the game with 4 adults and a 7-year-old who was her first game ever and not once have I ever hear them speak about support Dublin all years.
All the local clubs who support and are Training young boys and girls to be the future players for the team struggle to get enough tickets for club members and players.
But yet Once or twice a year fans stroll into a newsagent or get given tickets for game is a very big problem with how tickets are shared out.
I would agree with Ian O’Rourke I have seen and gotten emails of tickets been offered in the workplace to people who jump on the bandwagon come final time.