Foley leads in Musgrave farewell
Thu, 08 May 2008 23:26
Despite the presence of squad captain Paul O'Connell, Anthony Foley will be wearing the captain's armband when he plays his last game at Musgrave Park on Saturday - a Magners League clash between Munster and Glasgow Warriors.
It will be an emotional farewell for Foley.
When John Kelly made his debut for Munster in September 1997, Anthony Foley already had three seasons in the red jersey under his belt.
In this season that sees Munster nominated the No.1 club in Europe, both hang up their boots - 13 and 10 seasons respectively after they started - leaving the squad ever the stronger for their presence.
No doubt Musgrave Park is gearing up to pay a fond farewell to a genuine living legend on Saturday, when Foley plays his last home game for Munster before retiring after the Heineken Cup Final - against Toulouse in Cardiff on May 24.
Back in December John Kelly received a fitting tribute from supporters and players alike after he was according a huge ovation following his last appearance in the Munster red against Connacht at the same venue.
The 34-years-old wing scored 14 tries in 67 Heineken Cup appearances, his most memorable being the pair in the 'miracle match' against Gloucester in 2003.
Both players were similar in that what you saw on the pitch is what you got.
The pair went about their business in an under-stated way, but were always model professionals, content to stay out of the spotlight and allow their displays speak for themselves.
In particular you've only to glimpse at Foley's record with the province to appreciate his remarkable contribution to the country's most popular team. Over 200 competitive games, a record 86 Heineken Cup appearances and 23 tries in Europe are just some of the statistics to adorn his career and that's not factoring in his 62 Ireland caps and five tries.
A Celtic League winner the influential No.8 captained the Celtic Cup-winning team in 2005 before his crowning moment of leading the Heineken Cup triumph a year later.
Three times Foley's been Munster's leading or joint leading try scorer in Europe and with Shannon he was ever-present in their four-in-a-row All-Ireland League triumphs between 1995 and '98.
But facts and figures don't go even close to measuring Foley's importance to the side, particularly when you bear in mind that he started out as an amateur when the Heineken Cup was finding its feet.
The 34-years-old is blessed with an incomparable rugby brain. Foley has this ability to be in the right place at the right time and always seeming to do what's required in almost every situation.
He's certainly not the chatter-box of the squad. There are plenty others more than capable of fitting that description, but when Foley speaks everyone listens because what he says invariably strikes a chord. But it's actions on the field which sum up the player. He epitomises what Munster represents, honesty, commitment and a limitless spirit, heart and soul.
To this day Foley remains the only Munster player to score a hat-trick of tries in Europe and his finishing ability was never more welcome than on that memorable January afternoon in 2001.
Biarritz were appearing in their first Heineken Cup when they travelled to Thomond Park for a quarterfinal which most people believed would take a predictable course.
Little was known of the Basques at the time. They'd emerged from a group containing Northampton, who had beaten Munster in the previous season's Final, Leinster and Edinburgh.
Their stand-out players were Phillipe Bernat-Salles and Frano Botica in the backs and Olivier Roumat and Serge Betsen in the pack, with the Lievremont brothers, Thomas and Marc, the current French coach, on the bench.
It ended up being a seven-try thriller with the visitors claiming four tries, including a pair from flank Christoph Milheres, and while it wasn't quite squeaky bum time it was still much too close for comfort.
Only two Munster players scored that afternoon, Ronan O'Gara kicking seven penalties and a conversion, but it was Foley's hat-trick which helped them survive 38-29.
He was also a creator of tries and one in particular stands out, when a perfectly weighted grubber kick to the corner produced a rare try for Christian Cullen.
We can only wonder at the vast amount of rugby knowledge picked up by both Foley and Kelly during their distinguished playing careers. It's incumbent on everyone involved in Munster rugby that this is passed on to the next generation, irrespective of the level.
Foley is already involved in coaching with his beloved Shannon and Kelly helped UCC backs during the season. Their experiences are invaluable and it wouldn't come as much of a surprise if they were to return to Munster in some capacity in the future.
Munster squad:
Forwards: Tony Buckley, Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Federico Pucciarello, Jerry Flannery, Frankie Sheahan, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Anthony Foley (captain).
Backs: Peter Stringer, Tomás O'Leary, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Rua Tipoki, Keith Earls, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Anthony Horgan, Denis Hurley, Shaun Payne
Date: Saturday, May 10
Venue: Musgrave Park, Cork
Kick-off: 17.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Touch judges: Alan Rogan (Ireland), Brian Macneice (Ireland)
TMO: Trevor Collins (Ireland)
With thanks to munsterrugby.ie
