Memories of Munster and ‘loyal Kerryman’ Moss

SINCE Covid-19 put a stop temporarily to sports in March, newspapers turned to reminding sports fans of famous past games and players.

During lockdown I read John Scally’s book ‘100 Great Irish Rugby Moments’ (2019) and here are my favourites: when Munster beat the All-Blacks for the first time in 1978, Limerick-born actor Richard Harris sent a telegram: “Your historic victory over New Zealand made roaring headlines in every South African paper. I’ve been on the dry for 10 months, but I can’t think of a better occasion or excuse to acquaint my liver with the drowning sensation of a drop. I wish I was there. I rang Richard Burton [actor and fan of Wales] and although he extends his congratulations, I detected a tinge of jealousy.”

Moss Keane was on that Munster team in 1978. When once asked was he afraid of flying, he replied: “Afraid of flying? No. Afraid of crashing? Yes.”

He was playing for the Wolfhounds with a teammate who had diabetes. At half-time, when the team was in a huddle, a medic rushed on with a sugar lump and asked Moss if he was the player it was for, only to be told, “Who do you think I am? Shergar?”

His finest interview may have been in New Zealand where he was on his first Lions tour. The other Lions players told the BBC they would not give any more interviews until their team-mate was included, as the BBC feared his accent would not be understood. The BBC relented and on live television he was asked: “Well, Moss, you have been here for two months and you’ve played in your first Lions Test, met the Maoris... what’s been the best moment of the trip for you?” Moss replied: “When I heard Kerry beat Cork in the Munster final.” Moss Keane was a loyal Kerryman at all times, no matter when or where. I admire that.

Mary Sullivan College Road, Co Cork