THIS WAS THOMOND Park back somewhere near its best.
Deafening silences for kicks, a chorus of pressure every time Saracens hooker Jamie George set himself to throw-in at the line-out and the light-hearted slagging of opposition characters like Chris Ashton.
With a 25,600 sell-out crowd watching on, the rugby was perhaps not spectacular in terms of running and linebreaks, but there was utter satisfaction for the home support in Munster’s effective game plan.
After disappointing crowds earlier this season, the province will have been buoyed to see their fan base out in numbers. Captain Peter O’Mahony never doubted them.
“It was harsh to ever call out that group of lunatics,” said the back row post-match at Thomond Park.
You saw it today and heard the noise levels. It’s a pleasure every time you come out there, it doesn’t matter if it’s Europe or the Pro12. The Heineken are special days as well, but they’re an unbelievable group.”
“When we play at home it’s so important to us to let the fans see how important it is to us and how important our record is at home. It’s a big relief to do that. There always is extra pressure at home.
“You want to show the fans how important it is, and you see how important it is to them. They keep turning up to Thomond Park and we want to make sure that they can see it in our eyes when we go out there. We put our bodies on the line to defend and win at home.”
While plaudits should deservedly go the way of Munster’s coaching staff of Anthony Foley, Brian Walsh, Ian Costello, Mick O’Driscoll and Jerry Flannery for delivering the players an ideal game plan, it was those on the pitch who had to see it into action.
With a half-time scoreline of 3-3 despite Munster’s dominance of the territory, they could have been forgiven for being frustrated. However, O’Mahony points out that the focus remained on the strategy, and their work rate.
A big motto we had at half time was to keep showing up for each other. When you feel you can’t make it or you’re down, get up and make it. You’ve just got to do it.
“It’s a great feeling. We know how impressive they can be when they’re allowed to play. They are a great side. It was a real arm wrestle and we’re delighted to come away with the win. We know it took so much hard effort in the week and building up to it.
“We’re not getting carried away two games into a six-game campaign. There’s four more cup finals left.”
This is a phenomenal result. Saracens have been the dominant team in England. Tactically out thought. Forget your narrow last minute escapes , this will rank in time as one of Munsters finest performances.
Well done pom , ye put up some fight , congratulations
What annoys me is that tomorrow, even though I’m a Munster fan, I’ll be shouting on Ulster against Toulon, connacht against Exeter and Leinster against Castres, but you have to weigh in with the provincial crap. Let that to the pro 12
Bullshit.end of story.Friday night games has been the preferred excuse for not filling thomond for pro 12 games.European cup rolls into town and its ALMOST full again and the self proclaimed best fans ever start shite talking about their wonderful support yet again.
That is all.
Ehhh. It’s the teams captain praising the support. Not the “self-professed” best fans.
Yes and perpetuating the myth that these are the most passionate fans ever.
Paul, just shut up
Love a good moan Paul :D
No, just like correcting people when they are wrong.
“That is all” shut up u numpty it was the first home game of the rugby championship against a team who are flying in there own league at the moment of course it was full. People like you are full of BS looking for a cheap dig get a life.
Well done eamonn tell it like it’s is , he is nothing but a troll
Unfortunately Paul we don’t all have the luxury of taking time off of work nor the money to go to every game, I have a season ticket (bought for me) but can’t afford to get to all the games so I chose the bigger games to take time off…On the train back now and thoroughly enjoying the win!
Tell it like it is? For too long the munster faithful have been ramming their bullshit down everyones throats.”red army “”best fans ever”"pashun”etc etc etc.where were all these lunatic fans for the pro 12 games or last years rabos.?where were these lunatics when musgrave park was being abandoned when ulster were handing ye back yere arses a few back.suddenly a full house again and the red army hyperbole restarts and anyone who tries to point it out is abused and shouted down.support who you want boys but lay off a bit on the best supporters ever bullshit.
That is all.
Any chance you’d piss off and Munster (and Irish) fans enjoy their victory?
Let*
“Abused and shouted down” cmon paul were you an altar boy or what someone must have really hurt you years ago
If you’ve been drinking Paul stop, it doesn’t suit you. If you don’t drink start, you need something to help you.
Oh, and when you conclude with, that is all, please, please stick to it. Good night pumpkin.
When they are wrong! Read the article….” A sell out crowd “
Honestly pal you’re starting to look mentally ill now.
Why do you even care to comment??? What do you have against Munster? If anything people will follow a successful side. For a lot of people trying to make it to Limerick on a Friday night is quite tough and you have to take into account that not everyone in Limerick is a rugby fan. Also following on from this point, I myself am from West Cork and when I was living there as a young lad was only able to make it to some Euro games. This is the same for many other fans down there. Allied to this fact there is no discernible rugby clubs in these GAA strongholds. It’s been brilliant that its infiltrated these kinds of areas over the last few years but given rugby has only been professional for 30 odd years technically its still in its toddler stages. So that’s why most people don’t follow their local clubs since there isn’t many. And also why they don’t make Friday night games because some people aren’t as black and white as you and have some variables to deal with like jobs, kids and more than likely friends and a life. That my good sir. Is all.
Well i was at a Leinster Heineken cup game wen they played Cardiff in the quarter final wit a near full stadium in dublin and accept from watching the game the fans were rubbish no atmosphere. Went to a rabbo game in munster against Edinburgh while the 6 nations was on and it was half empty stadium but it was best atmosphere I’ve ever been at.
Thats probably because munster fans have so much pashun.
Pauls a sad man. 60 % of Munster fans also support local clubs ie Clonakilty/ Waterpark/ Ennis/ Clonmel/ Clanwilliam/ etc. Most of Leinster/Ulster fans haven’t a clue about Grass Roots Rugby
.. but have the “Scarf” and Ra Ra Ra… Sad boy Paul.
Dead ball Browne, you are as bad as Paul by slagging off leinster and Ulster. Paul is from Waterford.
Connacht for Sam
5,000 for the first two Magners League games this season (forget the outright dishonest attendance they officially gave for them both) but a full house there tonight. That is an indisputable fact. Where are these “lunatics” for all the non glamour games?
Distributed around the province, or an hour and a half drive away in the province’s largest city. How many fans do you reckon are driving from Offaly every Friday night for Leinster games?
Diarmuid, leave Leinster out of this. Paul/Robson are from Waterford and/or Connacht.
The rain could not put a dampener on the mood at a sold-out Thomond Park and Munster’s red army of fans, reared on a diet of classic European encounters, created a vibrant, raucous atmosphere.
With every Munster kick roared on as it came down from the heavens and every tackle by the hosts producing a similarly passionate response, Saracens were always going to be up against it. Read it n weep!
It’s telling that people never debate the issue with Paul Sheehan when he raises valid points and choose to merely abuse him instead. Where are all these great Munster “lunatics” all season for the non glamour games? Why do they never attend AIL games? Why do the media drool over them on the rare occasions they do actually go to games? Where were all these great fans at the start of the Heino Cup when Munster were muck? Go on, answer those questions. Go on.
Never heard ‘end of story’ and ‘that is all’ used in any debates before, just inflammatory language used by trolls like yourself to get a reaction, find yer little rants amusing though :D
It must eat you up when munster win robson
Lad it couldn’t be more obvious that you’re the same person as Paul. Same argument that is backed up by the other account and the fact that the two writing styles are exactly the same makes it extremely obvious to anyone who has abit of cop on.
Also what’s up with the “that is all”? The next time you say it now make sure that it is all and we never have to hear from you again
RobsonKeane, you’ve made your point on several occasions recently about Munster and bandwagon fans. Surely you’ve nothing else to add to the conversation?? “That is all”
I need to take a days holidays to go to a friday evening game in Limerick, its not too unreasonable to pick the European one when thats the case, plenty other Munster fans in the same situation.
Paul is from Waterford, yes Waterford. He is not from Leinster. It’s one of your own that is slagging you off and not a Leinster fan. Paul is from Munster.