MUNSTER LEGEND KEITH Earls said that winning the URC title in South Africa and returning home to a rapturous reception from over 10,000 fans at Thomond Park was a dream come true.
The 35-year old, who may have played his final game for Munster in the 19-14 win over the Stormers on Saturday, was the first player on the ground in Limerick on Monday morning.
The team bus arrived in Limerick at 10am and an hour later Earls had the URC trophy in Milford National School where his children go to school.
The Irish international, to chants of ‘one more year’, was given a rapturous welcome when he was introduced to the crowd, who had started gathering for the free event at Thomond Park around 4.30pm.
“Look, it’s a dream come true. I grew up 500 metres from here over the wall ino Ballynanty and into Moyross.
I don’t really care about the medals and the trophy, it’s all about the province of Munster. We are delighted to do it for them, it has been a long time.
“Getting over the wall here after school every day, kicking the ball around and then getting to lift the trophy here with the lads in front of a few thousand, it’s great, magic.”
Earls said this win after 12 years without a trophy was particularly special for older players such as himself, Peter O’Mahony, Stephen Archer and Conor Murray.
“Yeah, it has been a long time, it has been 12 years. It is a privilege to share the pitch with them. I know some of the lads cannot be here, Conor Murray is getting married next week. He’s under savage pressure! We’ll enjoy,” added Earls.
Head coach Graham Rowntree promised the fans that this win was just the start for Munster, and that they will have gained so much from the way they had to win it with their final six games away from home.
“This won’t sink in for a long time, they won’t realise it,” said Rowntree. “There is no other team has done this, six games away from home. And no one will ever do it again. But we will find a hard way to do it next time!
“And what that gives you as a player is the belief, you become bullet-proof. And you go and play teams and they are scared of you. I mean, we should have put them away by half-time on Saturday.
“This group will fight and I am just so proud of them. We are ready for this and this group of players are ready for this. It will only get better lads, I promise you that. This will only get better.”
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You have to be happy earls , o mahony and Murray the most , they’ve endured some tough seasons and waited a long time for this trophy .
Well done again Munster .
The potential for this group of players and coaches is sky high.
Just brilliant for this group of players who so deserve it.
To quote that great philosopher from the 80s, Yazz, the only way is up
Still can’t believe we’re champions! It’s been a long road and with the introduction of the South Africans it only got harder. Really great time to be a Munster fan.
Always de bitter word. Every dog has its day. This was special. Enjoy Munster and we start from scratch again next season
It’s weird I don’t think I’ve never seen any of the other winners of the Pro12/Pro14/URC overcelebrate their win as much as this Munster one. Even we finished 5th, I don’t think people realise that 4 teams finished above us in the league. Some perspective is needed.
@Hugh De Payans: ah the salt tastes good
@Hugh De Payans: We won the league, so er… no.1 spot would be more accurate, (allow it, 12 years is a few generations of slush tbh and remember these mejia type need content, don’t blame fans for the amount of articles, which is always excessive).
@Hugh De Payans: Not Munster’s fault that others don’t know how to celebrate.
The only perspective needed is that Munster are the champions beating all of the teams that finished above them in the table away from home on the way to the title.
@Hugh De Payans: In the league section of the championship we were 5th but that’s not important. Finishing in the top 8 is and what you do after that is.
Of the teams who finished above us I wonder how many of them got more points than us after round 5?
@TL55: Munster had 11 points, finished on 55, so picked up 44 points. Leinster picked up 56, Ulster 47, stormers 51.
@Hugh De Payans: take your point but what you’re saying is completely incorrect you can only play the competition infront of you. The goal is to lift the trophy which was the stormers goal too. So it’s a nothing argument you make.
That winding road to Fitzgerald park was a rare experience on this island, delighted for Earls, thought he would compete for the top try scoring spot but looks like Zeebo will hold that for a few years to come! (go easy with the chum 42!)
Wining away in Glasgow, Dublin and SA means munster won the league the hard way. Worthy champions and fitting for the likes of earls, murary pom etc. Interesting to see how next season goes. As a leinster fan i just hope our SA games are not at the end of the season and we have to go down there with a strong squad. Those types of games stand to you later on in the knock outs. We can keep our under 15′s for the welsh sides.
@chris mcdonnell: Graham Rowntree spoke alot about his team being battle hardened.
Maybe Leinster were wrapped in cotton wool too much at the end of the season.
@Oran Burns: We’re talking about that in the lead up the final (CC), same as last year. Margins we’re so fine tho. Like they easily played the best half of Rugby we’ve seen (well I’ve seen) in the first half (apart from and reminiscent of IreVFra), but yea nothing like a few weeks on the road to condition a team.