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Straight talking Kerrymen
by Oonagh O'Mahoney

The pre-match lunch in Dolans prior to the Castres game definitely kicked off the festive season. Many of us sampled our first round of turkey - sure to be followed by many more in the coming weeks-no doubt some will be sprouting feathers by the game on New Year's Day!

As we were enjoying our apple pie and watching Ulster beat Stade, the packed room was quietly buzzing and the occupants only looking slightly ridiculous decked out in their Santa hats. The screen went up and the light shone on the stage to reveal Mick Galwey, Michael Corcoran and Moss Keane. I for one was surprised to see Michael Corcoran sitting calmly on stage having heard only a half an hour previously that his flight to Shannon had been diverted to Dublin and that he was making his way from Dublin by road! Lets hope no penalty points were picked up on the way.

The 2 wise men.Currow legends ,Mick Galwey and Moss Keane.
© Irish Examiner

Mort Stack explained a little about the Bluebell charity, who were the beneficiaries of the proceeds from the pre-match lunch. Michael Corcoran (MC-apt initials really!) then introduced the panel and mentioned that he was slightly concerned at being flanked by two Kerry men and a slight debate ensued as to who was the bigger legend-height and weight had no place in this particular debate.

The first question asked came from Barry Hill and was a cracker: who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with and why? MC pointed out that this obviously excluded members of the fairer sex. Moss Keane told a story about the 1977 Lions tour and seven of the pack in a lift- suffice to say clean air was at a premium! Gallimh was more concise in his reply and said that Neil Back would be 'handy' to have in the lift! The packed room just loved that choice!

Michael Corcoran with Cork GAA legends. © Irish Examiner


MC asked Gallimh to describe what it was like playing a French side, Gallimh said that each and every match against the French was a very physical affair and was tough every time and he was sure that the match later that day would be no exception - how right he was.

MC then took his life in his hands, considering his company, and asked Gallimh who he thought Leinster would play in the final of the Heineken Cup this year. He was lucky that Gallimh answered quickly that Leinster had another thing coming if they thought they were going to win the Heineken Cup this year. He said that when a team is backed to a wall he would back Munster to win every time. (And so say all of us!)

MC then asked Moss Keane if he had any special memories of Thomond Park. Moss outlined one particular day when himself and Brendan Foley arrived at a squad session a little worse for wear from the night before and got a very rude awakening when they finally woke up half-way through the second squad session! But that was in the old days- apparently our new professional players were never dream of doing such a thing-or that is what we will be told anyway! Moss outlined what we all believe to be the case, that the crowd in Thomond Park (i.e. us), unnerve the opposition, just look at the 'Volley' chants. We have a reputation for having a crowd expert in intimidation given the fact that the terraces are so close to the pitch.( Just ask the referees!)

Gallimh remembered a particular afternoon in Toulouse when Munster were humiliated in a 60-19 defeat, complete with only 26 travelling supporters. Fast forward three years and the fear factor had all but disappeared, legions of supporters were there to witness the first away victory. At this point it was quite clear that once you don the Munster jersey you cannot be intimidated-player or supporter.

MC tried unsuccessfully to get Moss Keane to name who he thought would be picked for the Lions tour this summer, after the fourth man from Munster was named we knew he was not going to fall into any traps that may be laid for him!

Moss said that he has nightmares about playing in the professional era of rugby. In his day you played your matches, trained twice a week and then went on the lash after your one match and spent the rest of the week sitting at a desk in an office pretending to work while trying to recover. He remarked that in his day if you had more than one recycle of the ball you were wrecked and that the ball was only ever held in the back of the scrum to give the forwards a rest! Now it just made look as if it is planned but the end result is the same!

I have been to many a corporate pre-match lunch (work not pleasure I can assure you!) and can safely say this lunch and the speakers far surpassed any of the corporate 'dos'. We arrived at the lunch hopeful we would win and after Gallimh and Moss Keane were finished with us we knew we had our part to play in the victory and that it was ours.
by Oonagh O'Mahoney
   
 
PRE-MATCH - JANUARY

Our pre-match lunches in Dolan’s this season have been very successful – so successful that the most recent lunch before the Castres game was a sell-out and we had to refuse some bookings.

We will be having another pre-match lunch before the last home pool game on 8th January against Neath Swansea Ospreys. This event will be held in Dolan’s on the Dock Road in Limerick.

We have not yet finalised the guests for this event. However, if you wish to reserve seats for this event you should issue an email to us stating your name, membership number, contact telephone number and the number of tickets that you wish to reserve.

THANKS TO MC, MOSS & MICK

The Supporters Club would like to thank most sincerely Michael Corcoran, Mick Galwey and Moss Keane for their participation in our pre-match function at Dolan’s, Limerick prior to the Castres match.

The event was enjoyed by all in attendance and help us to raise €800 for the Bluebell ABA School for autistic children – a well deserving charity.


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