Joe Molloy was joined by Hector Ó hEochagáin and Colm Keys on the Sunday Paper Review to discuss a number of pressing issues that are taking up the papers, including John Muldoon’s fairytale farewell with Connacht.
After 17 years with the province, Muldoon bowed out with a comprehensive 47-10 win over Leinster at the Sportsground to claim a clean home sweep in the series of the season.
And Hector Ó hEochagáin reflected on Muldoon the man, as well as the player, as the province waved goodbye to one of their favourite sons.
“When you’re living in Galway it’s a small town and everybody knows everybody,” Hector said.
“You could meet him on a Monday morning on Eyre Square or down Quay Street. Johnny Muldoon is as good a guy on the pitch as he is off the pitch, he’s an absolute gentleman – very funny.
“I meet him sometimes in the same coffee shop three or four times a week after their training sessions. A fine Galway man; a Portumna man – a warrior for the province.
“Did we know who Johnny Muldoon was 10 or 12 years ago? We didn’t.”
Colm Keys also hailed Muldoon for his dedication to Connacht and lamented his lack of international recognition.
“He always brought a ferocity,” Keys said.
“And fittingly, yesterday, Connacht signed off Johnny Muldoon’s last game with a 47-10 win against Leinster. It’s hard to believe he only got three international caps.
“If you go back to 2001 - if he was playing that long – you would have thought maybe he would have got higher than that, but there was such incredible competition in the back row. [But] he was a really strong club player.”
Despite his lack of international appearances, Hector believes Muldoon received all the adoration he could have ever wanted with his home province.
“And isn’t it fitting that he did get the recognition, the silverware, that Connacht got the crowds in the gate and the adoration of the province,” Hector added.
“Johnny was still there for the good times – he was there in the bad times – and he’s now been there for the greatest time in Connacht rugby.”
Written by James Hopper
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