Deliverance as squad of 2009 claim their place in history

A NATION expected in these parlous times, and a team delivered.

The Irish rugby team removed a 61-year-old monkey from their backs in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday with a nerve-shredding, dramatic 17-15 win over Wales to claim a first Grand Slam since 1948, and only Ireland’s second in history.

The Irish squad returned to Dublin airport yesterday with vice-captain Paul O’Connell carrying the Triple Crown and captain Brian O’Driscoll the Six Nations trophy, and the team having reached its Holy Grail.

On only four occasions since 1948 have an Irish team even reached the last game of the competition with a chance of the Grand Slam.

The class of 2009 have, quite simply, completed the greatest achievement in the history of Irish rugby and did so amid the kind of drama that only great sporting theatre can throw up.

Ronan O’Gara’s 78th-minute drop goal having regained the lead, television cameras again panned toward Jackie Kyle, the star turn in that sepia-tinged 1948 team, as Welsh outhalf Stephen Jones lined up a 48-metre penalty with the last kick of the game.

The ball seemed to hang in the air for an eternity, and was heading towards the Irish posts, before falling just short.

Kyle was one of the estimated 15-20,000 Irish fans among the 74,646 crowd in Cardiff and television viewing figures are likely to break the previous record of 1.2 million for an Irish rugby match. Within an hour of the full-time whistle, Kyle probably had writer’s cramp from signing autographs for emotional Irish fans, many of whom were in tears.

O’Driscoll, probably Ireland’s greatest ever rugby player, can expect a similar fate. It was that kind of day, draining, unforgettable and wonderful all at once.

President Mary McAleese presented the Six Nations trophy to the team in Cardiff. Yesterday some 2,000 supporters were at the airport to greet the squad before an estimated crowd of 17,500 turned Dawson Street into a sea of green for the Lord Mayor’s reception. The heroes of 2009 were then feted in the Mansion House before returning to their hotel. It would be another long night.