Thomond legend adds glorious chapter

Rugby/ European Cup: The team regrouped one final time, but not on the pitch. Instead, the Munster players climbed the steps of the stand to take the acclamation of a hardcore group of about 700 supporters, a sea of red that refused to part until they had one final opportunity to serenade their heroes.

A lusty, upbeat rendition of The Fields of Athenry brought the curtain down on another remarkable Thomond Park occasion, with the vanquished Sale Sharks ensconced in the sanctuary of their dressingroom. It's easy to understand the relationship between team and supporters, the umbilical bond, on nights like these, and why that knot of supporters chanted chorus after chorus of "We want the team" until they appeared.

There is that genuine empathy, the energy of players feeding off the supporters and vice versa, and it has made for some quite unforgettable Limerick nights. This was another chapter, one that even the most ardent Munster fan might have balked at penning. After all, Sale had the example of the Miracle Match of three seasons ago and were obviously forewarned.

But therein lies the rub: knowing and experiencing are completely different animals when it comes to Munster rugby. Sale, top of the Guinness Premiership, laden with internationals and in excellent form, had that lofty reputation shredded and cast to the four winds.

Munster captain Anthony Foley quietly observed, "Sometimes we get told that we can't do certain things and it's good when you achieve those things. We knew that there was a lot of work to do after the first game, but we managed to keep things in our own hands. Anything can happen at Thomond Park and we knew that they would have to come here.

"They (Sale) have a great pedigree and are top of the Premiership. They're a side with Lions and French internationals. Our record at Thomond Park means a lot. The atmosphere inspires the players. We can see and hear the family and friends who've come to support us, and no one wants to let them down.

"They do give us a lift. But I can't take anything away from the boys I play with as they were absolutely brilliant."

There is generally a quiet dignity to Munster's post-match ruminations, little overt triumphalism - in marked contrast to the scenes in the Shannon and Bohemian clubhouses, thronged with ecstatic supporters for whom the ebb and flow of a gruelling 94 minutes are being replayed pint by pint.

Upstairs, Sale's coach Philippe Saint-Andre cuts a lonely figure as he faces a media pack, protected only by a bar-style counter. His words are quietly spoken, accompanied by the odd smile, the occasional grimace. He spends close to 15 minutes sifting through the debris of his team's aspirations before someone asks how you conquer Munster at Thomond Park.

He smiles: "To win here you need to play the perfect game, kick well, defend aggressively and take your chances; we didn't. The atmosphere for any fan here was fantastic. It is a wonderful place to play but a tough place to win."

His Munster counterpart, Declan Kidney, once again sought the shadows, thrusting his players into the spotlight to take the bouquets. He doesn't usually single out players, but this time he did: John Hayes. He bemoaned that The Bull had never won a man-of-the-match award, despite his immense contributions.

He praised his players, spoke warmly of the vanquished and vainly tried to put a brake on expectations. But that is for another night. Sale came, they saw - but like many before them, they found conquering was beyond them. The Limerick citadel remains proudly intact.