PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON stepped onto a transatlantic flight from Dublin yesterday with an extra spring in his step. The three-time major champion — who is on a seven-week stint to the United States, with the US Masters and his quest for the third leg of the so-called ‘Paddy Slam’ in the middle of that run of tournaments — knows better than most how sporting endeavours can warm the cockles of a nation’s heart and, as an observer this time round, Ireland’s Grand Slam win allowed him to wallow in the success of others for a change.
Although he’d attended the Rugby World Cup two years ago and had been offered a ticket to Cardiff for Saturday’s match, Harrington chose to watch the match on television at home. “As a sporting occasion, it was fantastic. I’m thrilled for the team, because they have been under a lot of pressure over the years. Fair play to Declan Kidney who has been instrumental in getting the best out of the players and I’m particularly happy to see Brian O’Driscoll get his just rewards,” said Harrington.
“The fact they went to Wales and won, that they did things right and worked so hard for each other, makes it even better.”
What impressed Harrington most about the win over the Welsh was the way the team didn’t panic when falling behind to Stephen Jones’ drop goal late in the match.
“They showed patience and trust, especially in working the play for Ronan’s drop goal . . . I obviously don’t watch my own stuff when I’m playing, so it was great to sit down and watch the rugby and for us to get the result the whole country wanted,” he added.
Charlie Swan, the former champion jockey turned trainer, experienced many fine occasions in his own sporting career – among them the three Champion Hurdles he won on Istabraq – and found the manner of the Grand Slam win to be “nail-biting, it couldn’t have been more dramatic.”
Swan, who watched the match on television with friends, remarked: “It was fantastic, brilliant . . . especially the way it ended when Ronan got that drop goal. The win has given the whole country a lift. We need days like these to get over the doom and gloom, and then Bernard Dunne winning as well. Great.”
Briege Corkery, the All-Star camogie player and footballer, was similarly enthused. “I thought their determination was great, they way they never gave up. The way they kept going to the end is a lesson for everyone involved in sport, and the win has certainly cheered everyone up.”
For John O’Mahony, the politician and Mayo football manager, the win was perfectly timed. “People needed a lift and more often than not it comes from sport. This was absolutely fantastic, an exhilarating win and what really impressed me was the unity of purpose with the squad, the team and the management. These players were willing to put their life on the line.”
As a two-time All-Ireland winning manager in his time with Galway, O’Mahony was extremely impressed with Declan Kidney’s input into turning the team into Six Nations champions and Grand Slam achievers. “Listening to Declan Kidney after the match, and the magnanimous way he acknowledged the work that Eddie O’Sullivan did, the honesty of this team came through. I mean, when you hear Paul O’Connell talking about a tackle he missed after the magnificent game he had, it just shows that honesty . . . . this team got what they fully deserved in winning the Grand Slam and they have given the nation a huge lift.”
The team’s achievement was lauded by Minister for Sport Martin Cullen, who commented: “They are deserving winners of the highest accolade in northern hemisphere rugby and have secured for themselves a permanent place in Irish sporting history . . . huge praise must go to Declan Kidney and his management and coaching team in their first year at the helm and to captain Brian O’Driscoll and all the players for their determination and on an outstanding achievement of which they should all be immensely proud.”
