Connacht’s longest serving ‘auld fella’ Muldoon is relishing crack at Grenoble

THESE days, it’s not unusual for John Muldoon to self-deprecatingly refer to himself as an ‘auld fella’.

In fairness, he’s been around the block a few times. So many times, in fact, that he’s the only man still playing for Connacht who featured the other occasion the province was pitted against Grenoble in Europe.  Connacht won that winter’s day  years ago, a momentous triumph on French soil.

The budding back-row was still wet around the ears but was a vital component in the victory. So good was the relatively unknown Portumna young lad’s performance, he “confirmed his emergence as a player of genuine potential”, according to the Tribune Sport report of the 26-21 match.

Over a decade later, Muldoon remains a key influence. Not only is he captain and spiritual leader, he’s enjoying some of the best rugby of his career.

Like a fine wine – Muldoon is getting better with age. That’s evidenced by his vision, deft hands and nimble feet in the lead-up to Caolin Blade’s try in Belfast last week; a beauty, it was undoubtedly Connacht’s try of the season.

The manner in which he tackled, demon like, with a frightening ferocity to hold-out Ulster on the line in the dying minutes, when the game was lost and Connacht were reduced to 13 men, bordered on reckless endangerment.

He’s still got the enthusiasm and desire of a young lad. “Believe me it’s easy come-in in the morning,” he says.

“When you’re winning games it’s easy to come in. There’s a good buzz around the place. There’s a band of supporters that don’t know about Connacht losing. Yes it was a good performance in Ulster and we were disappointed in the result but a lot of supporters of Connacht are shocked and disappointed we lost. That shows you how far we’ve come.”

Connacht trailed 3-18 after just 24 minutes of play in the Alps in January 2005 but staged an incredible comeback. That’s the Connacht stubbornness and resilience. It still permeates the squad today, probably even more so.

Others who played for Connacht alongside Muldoon against Grenoble in that famous Challenge Cup quarter-final win, will feature prominently off-field this Saturday (8.05pm Irish time) at Stade des Alps.

Conor McPhillips, who started at full-back, is now Connacht video analyst. Meanwhile, Bernard Jackman, the hooker that day, is Grenoble head coach and Andrew Farley, who started in the second-row, is a trusty lieutenant.

That Connacht-French connection should make the post-match drinks interesting. But Muldoon is fully focused on the game. He notes that Connacht has twice before qualified for semi-finals, so a win at the weekend would not break new ground. It would be different, though, because securing a home semi-final would “probably be our most realistic chance of ever getting to the final. It’s exciting times.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.