Super Connacht give Muldoon the perfect send-off in the sun

Connacht 47

Leinster 10

WHAT an outrageously good way to end a phenomenal career. John Muldoon led Connacht out on Saturday for the final time and in what was his 327th and final game of rugby at professional level, his comrades went above and beyond what anyone thought they were capable of in a record-breaking demolition of one of European rugby’s elite squads. A fitting testament to what the man means to this group.

Leinster selected a young side one week on from their outstanding Champions Cup semi final victory over the Scarlets, so that is certainly in need of noting but a similar group had beaten Connacht comfortably at the same venue 12 months previously and time and again in the past, Leo Cullen’s men have underlined their strength in depth by beating Connacht while resting front liners.

From the outset the visitors were on the back foot, by half time they were on the ropes and by the hour mark they were simply trying to avoid a humiliation. All of this was against a backdrop of the John Muldoon factor taking over proceedings. This was his day and how fitting that his team produced the kind of display that can have lasting impact going forward after a tumultuous few months for the group.

The roar Muldoon received 45 minutes before kick off was the first sign that this was going to be a special day. An end of season dead rubber on the face of it but because of the occasion, a perfect one off afternoon of rugby that was going to attract a huge crowd of over 8,000 supporters. The Connacht rugby community were out in force here to back the man that spent almost 15 years at the venue pushing himself to new heights year after year.

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