One last fandango

A barefooted and dejected Jamie Heaslip lies about 2 foot away from me. Of all the sports I’ve followed across all different codes I can’t think of a more supreme athlete than the big number 8 and Ireland captain in waiting. Tonight however, he must sit and watch as Ryan Jones holds aloft the Championship trophy after the inaugural Grand Final. It never fails to amaze me in sport how the really great players react after defeat and how that separates them from the ordinary spear carrier. Heaslip glares through the presentation party and into the future. There’s a lot left in this Leinster team and he knows it. The young firing squad of Messrs Conway, McFadden and Keogh etc will be pushing hard next year and will undoubtedly drive this Province to even greater success.

I go over and quickly chat to Big Mal and offer my commiserations. The show is over for himself, Girve and Birch. These are 3 men who have given so much to the people of Leinster and have come from the darkness of a few hundred in Donnybrook to the brights lights of European success last year including 82,000 in Croker to witness the annexation of Munster. Birch is suited up and carrying his two young kids, one hell of a warrior and a special moment for the big man to share with his family. Girve walks past me still donning his aluminous substitutes bib, he has conducted himself with utmost integrity during a glittering career and the massive crowd that still linger give these lads the send off they deserve.

I decide to grab a few familiar faces from the Ospreys, they are certainly amenable to a bit of banter and chat about the festivities planned for the night ahead. Adam Jones offers me a sup from his Magnum of Bulmers which is very well received in this quarter, it’s been thirsty work. The crowd shuffles off as the light fades and the curtain comes down on the most ‘electrifying’ Magners league season in history, sorry lads I had to throw that one in!

As for Profan, the dream is over. It’s been a rollercoaster year and from it I’ll take some very special memories. I’ve got to meet some world class people along the way and spend time with one of my favourite people on this earth, my cousin and cameraman Brendan Galvin, I’ll be forever grateful for everything you’ve done for me. To the Supporters clubs, fans, players, managers and backroom teams, I want to say a massive thanks to you all. It’s been beautiful.

Conor Galvin
Magners League Profan

Derby Day Madness in the RDS

Leinster superheroes set up dramatic derby showdown

Thomond Faithful Have Their say

Tommy Bowes hit on De Villiers in the dying seconds means the worlds most famous travelling rugby fans will now have to circle the wagons once again. That said Munster are only 4 games away from an unlikely double and the most successful season in their history!! Better again, they’ll once again have the pundits against them as they load up for San Sebastian next week.

The great thing about the Thomond experience however is that win, lose or draw you can always be guaranteed to meet world class characters and as the following clips show they are in plentiful supply. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly meeting Ian Dowling disguised as Paddington Bear!!!!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3 – Ian Dowling Uncovered

This Given Sunday

“On this team we fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch Because we know when add up all those inches, that’s gonna make the f**king difference between winning and losing! Between living and dying! ” – Tony D’Amato.

The Connacht men know only too well that it is these inches that will determine their fate in this years Championship. Muldoon and Co returned to the dressing room with the dirt of the Munster try line under their fingernails but not the points. They laid siege to the whitewash for the final 10 minutes without let up. It was like the boxer knowing that only a KO would suffice in the last round of the title fight …….. he hammers his opponent on the ropes but just can’t score the vital knockout! Munster’s new guard have lost nothing of their forefathers willingness to put their bodies on the line for the famous crest.

Munster take a giant leap towards a guaranteed semi final slot. Connacht still languish on the bottom but for how long? With western momentum building one wonders for just how long Ulster can swim ahead of the shark in the race for European rugby next year ………………..

The Magic of Thomond

Stan’ up an’ fight until you hear de bell,
Stan’ toe to toe, trade blow fer blow,
Keep punchin’ till you make yer punches tell,
Show dat crowd watcher know!
Until you hear dat bell, dat final bell,
Stan’ up an’ fight like hell!”

…… and Literally all hell breaks loose!!!!!

The Celtic Tenors exit the scene like matadors after slaying the bull. The atmosphere has reached its Zenith and following this crescendo comes a wall of noise that’s all consuming. This is Thomond Park. Leo Cullen leads out the visiting Gladiators into this electrified rugby Colliseum. There is to be no hostility however.  Munster fans are a class above this. It’s the most amazing thing that such a vast army of fans with such passion coursing through their veins can still hold such reverence for the opposition.

The Cauldron is set alight once again as the countdown begins. The arrival of the men in Red for what is the biggest game of the season is now seconds away. The first sight of Ronan O’Gara leading out his charges and one can only be grateful that modern stadia are built with reinforced roofing. This is no ordinary stadium and these are no ordinary Supporters ………. This is Munster Rugby!

A golden saturday in the RDS

A golden Saturday in the RDS provided us with one of the most enjoyable days in the Rugby Calendar – Ladies Day

Representatives of the Leinster Supporters Club were out in force to ensure they delivered a day to remember and the fans certainly didn’t go home disappointed.

I spoke to Gordon D’arcy who stressed the importance of the community aspect that drives this Leinster Province. Proof of this was plentiful as many fans regaled me with stories of how D’arcy and team Leinster have supported so many hard luck causes and supported those less fortunate.

The feeling of goodwill about the day was reinforced by the fan interaction and banter on the terraces. Vital Magners League points were up for grabs but hell or high water everyone was going to enjoy the day out.

Connacht fans were approaching Rugby Nirvana as they stared down the barrel of a second Leinster scalp of the year. This Connacht team now have massive strenght in depth as they stormed the Leinster Fort all day long despite starting the match with the likes of Cronin, Keatley, Troy and Swift on the bench and talismanic captain John Muldoon out injured. Leinster for their part could boast their own absentee list but like Ali in Zaire in 1974 they hung on the ropes all day before Sexton delivered the knockout blow in the cruelest of circumstances!!!!

C4 Explosive Part 2: True Leinster Lions

As part of the piece I did on Carlow Rugby a few weeks back we caught up with Leinster’s Sean O Brien and Bernard Jackman.

With the big game this weekend growing closer I decided I’d treat the fans to just some of the craic we had with the two lads during their Magners League Minute. Enjoy!

Pro Fan Meets the Green Dragon Parts 2 & 3 – The Dentist, Ocean Drive and an Imaginary Friend

ProFan Meets The Green Dragon

Anyone looking for a lesson in self belief should take a trip down the N6 to Galway and the home of Connacht Rugby. For it is here you will find an organisation that stands for everything that is good about Irish sport. Eric Elwood spoke during the week about a sustainable plan for the future, about changing the mindset and about raising the bar. I have seen this mindset first hand. It doesn’t just manifest itself in the first team squad but filters down from CEO Gerry Kelly to Rachel and Audrey who keep the Sportsground tidy on a match night. This mindset he speaks of is  the same reason why Connacht is going to be a massive force to be reckoned with in the coming years. Of that there is no doubt.

The following feature shows the funnier side of the Province and the characters that make up this great organisation. I’d like to pay special thanks to Fiona Keyes for the fantastic welcome we received and especially to the 4 occupants of Ocean Drive: Sean Cronin, Ian Keatley, Fionn Carr and his imaginary friend! Thanks a mill for everything Guys.

PS. Competition lines are now open to nominate a new try scoring song for Fionn Carr. Email us at magnersleagueprofan2010@gmail.com