Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer celebrates victory over Toulouse with team-mates John O’Neill, left, and Marcus Horan, 2000 Heineken European Cup semi-finalMunster’s Donncha O’Callaghan, left, and Ronan O’Gara with the Heineken Cup after then Heineken Cup Final in May 2006Munster’s John Kelly celebrates after scoring his sides 4th try in the last minute of the game against Gloucester in 2003
MUNSTER are on the verge of creating yet more history in the European competition that has defined them in the professional era – a century of triumphs awaits if they can beat Clermont Auvergne in their citadel, Thomond Park.
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Fittingly, they have the opportunity to reach the historic mark a day before one of Europe’s other proud ambassadors, Toulouse, have themselves an opportunity to hit three figures.
A journey that began 19 years ago in their Limerick home, before a crowd of 7,000 on a November Wednesday, has spawned a thousand stories and a million tears. And, soon, a hundred victories.
The breakthrough in France
May 6, 2000, Semi-final, Toulouse 25 Munster 31, Stade Lescure
Munster had already breached the psychological barrier that required they win in France at Colomiers a year earlier; in the broiling Bordeaux heat, they smashed it completely.
“We had to take on Toulouse, their supporters and the heat,” said Mick Galwey.
Munster, magnificently completed the hat-trick with a flourish.
Ronan O’Gara’s epochal try summed up Munster’s on-field spirit; the 3,000 fans who completed the odyssey encapsulated the now rampant red army off the field.
Richard Harris phoned Galwey in the dressing-room delirious as the Munster myth grew epic legs.“Who the f*** is Richard?” quoth the Currow man.
April 23, 2006, Semi-final, Lansdowne Road, Leinster 6 Munster 30
This was the day when Munster painted the old town red; outnumbering the home faithful by much more than three to one, despite the fact that the clubs had received 21,400 tickets each.
A red letter day for sure as town clashed with country; countless caricatures festooned feature pages of newspapers.
The clash was distilled into the battle of the 10s; the Latin genius of Contepomi against the ruddy-faced, supposedly humdrum O’Gara.
O’Gara edged his battle, hurdling the advertising hoardings like a giddy teenager as his late try contributed a 20-point haul.
“I suppose it’s nice for us country folk to come here and get a result,” winked Anthony Foley.
Munster’s European odyssey had been colourful yet calcified by misfortune; sure, they had reached the tournament’s knockout stages every year since 1998.
But they had lost three semi-finals and two quarter-finals. This day was, ultimately, about delayed deliverance.
An early, illegal try hinted at more misfortune; Munster’s relentless, restless streak screamed defiance.
Their teak-tough South African centre, Trevor Halstead, hauled them into the contest. But it was Peter Stringer’s impish dash for the line that tore a hole in the occasion.
Appropriately, he would kick the ball out of play to greet the liberating final whistle, before turning to embrace his childhood friend and half-back partner Ronan O’Gara.
January 18, 2003, Round Six, Munster 33 Gloucester 6, Thomond Park
By our reckoning, Munster have conjured up eight last-gasp successes, from Northampton to Castres, Perpignan and, arguably, the greatest of them all, Saracens here in 2000.
But this was the miracle. The greatest story ever told. “They said it couldn’t be done,” said Mick Galwey.
It was a day when mathematics floundered and logic withered; Gloucester arrived as kings of their land but left this spiritual one as mere pygmies.
This was a day when Munster transformed the ordinarily mundane into the wildly audacious; a sporting conversion of water into wine.
O’Gara’s late kick sealed qualification after an unlikely points race; “It still brings a tear to my eye,” Alan Gaffney reminded us recently.
Munster have produced many scintillating displays – Ospreys in the 2009 quarter-final, Castres away en route to the 2006 final. This is a personal favourite. As usual, it was a performance hewn from perceived slights and bitterness.
The French giants had claimed that a narrow defeat in Limerick a week before was akin to an Academy training match; Munster don’t take kindly to slights on their character.
Munster dropped Springbok legend Jean De Villiers for this one but they didn’t need him. Mick Galwey still reckons this is Munster’s greatest ever success away to a French side as tries from John Fogarty, Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett and De Villiers secured the most unlikely of bonus-point wins.
Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi (J de Villiers 61), D Hurley; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty (D Varley 59), J Hayes (T Buckley 66), D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell (capt); A Quinlan (D Ryan 59), D Wallace, D Leamy.
The numbers
2 European Cup titles
4 Final appearances
11 Semi finals
15 Quarter Finals
1,365 Top points-scorer Ronan O’Gara
23 Top try scorer Anthony Foley
3,585 Total points
370 Total tries
7 Nationalities used (New Zealand, Australia, Wales, South Africa, Ireland, England, Argentina)
7 Club Captains
6 Head Coaches
61 Home wins
38 Away wins
48,500 Record home attendance (v Perpignan, Lansdowne Road, 2005/06)
