Cup tastes all the sweeter for Horan

The threat of being denied the chance to pursue a cherished goal can accentuate the appreciation when the object of desire is attained. Marcus Horan's face proved the point, the smile articulating his happiness at having played an integral part in Munster's European Cup final victory.

Seven weeks ago, on the Tuesday after Munster had defeated Perpignan in the quarter-finals of the tournament, Horan tore a calf in training. It's one of the worst injuries for a prop, given the pressure on the muscle at scrum time.

The portents were bleak but he worked hard and benefited from the skills of others.

"At one point I didn't know if I would be here and I owe a great deal to Kirsty Peacock (Munster physio) and the Irish boys Brian Green and Cameron Steele, who got me out on that pitch. I some respects it was easier that I had something to focus on other than the game.

"I knew it was going to be tight if I was going to make the final but I had a goal and stuck to it. To be honest, last Friday week, I felt a twinge in training and thought I had done something bad again. But it was a case of just stretching the muscle and it eased out."

The first scrum was always going to be the litmus test.

"It was such a relief. I think there was a little euphoria there as it removed any lingering doubt, even if it was only one per cent. I was cocky enough to scrummage off my bad leg at one stage," he laughed.

"It was tough out there, physically very hard, but we just kept working away, picking and driving and making them tackle again and again. Both teams earned the yards they got.

"When I came off, I didn't know what to do with myself. I felt powerless and when Freddie (Pucciariello) went down injured I had to be restrained from running back on."

While delighted for himself, Horan admits the moment he'll treasure is being joined on the pitch by the likes of Barry Murphy, Christian Cullen, Frankie Sheahan and Frankie Roche, players ruled out by injury: "We're a squad and what we achieve we achieve together. Everyone contributed."

None more so than Donncha O'Callaghan, who would have run Peter Stringer close for the man-of-the-match accolade.

Paul O'Connell's damaged ankle was bound to limit his influence, but his secondrow partner took up the mantle with a vengeance.

O'Callaghan's modesty precludes dwelling on his own virtues: "It wasn't the prettiest of finals, they normally aren't. We'll just look at parts of it and wonder how we managed to hold them out. But to be honest, I couldn't care less.

"We said all week that we wanted to perform, we wanted to go well. That was the thing we learnt from the last two (finals). You have to go and win finals. We did that to a degree. We scored two tries. Strings's was a beauty, a fine individual effort. That's what you need, fellas, stepping up on big occasions and getting scores for you.

"We pride ourselves on a bit of honesty. We like to take teams head on. It was really tough. The lineout was a huge game within the game. They have a very good defence. We were just delighted to get our fair share of ball."

Any what of the achievement in itself? "It's hard to put into words . . . so proud of the fellas around you. Whatever about yourself, you see the amount of hard work they put in.

"Just to wake up and be European champions. We've woken up a few times and it's been a rotten old feeling. I can't wait for tomorrow morning."

He's loth to draw comparison with the Triple Crown win. "They're both hugely special. It's a great honour to play for your country. We've brought something in here where the jersey means an awful lot to us.

"You just want to pass it on to the next guy with the same respect it was given to you. It's hard to compare. Fellas were just as pleased when we won a Triple Crown. It's great for the supporters."

And players and management too. It's important to savour winning as it whets the appetite.