It doesn’t seem long ago but it’s more than a decade all the same. Paul O’Connell, raw and big-boned, was 21 when I first set eyes on him. It wasn’t long before I wanted to throttle him.

KEITH Earls has rugby pedigree. His father was an integral member of arguably the most aggressive and unquestionably the most feared pack of forwards in Irish club rugby history.

DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN hopes to repay the Munster supporters for their patience at Thomond Park today.

WE have long comforted ourselves with the pleasing thought that, unlike the English, we do not suffer from class prejudice in Ireland.

Veteran flanker Alan Quinlan admits he feels like the “old man” of Declan Kidney’s youthful Ireland squad – but claims he has been rejuvenated by the arrival of his former provincial boss on the international scene.

IN the end, Munster’s victory was far more comprehensive than anyone dared contemplate. It is rare for contests of this nature to live up to pre-match hype, but in terms of colour, atmosphere and excitement Sunday’s semi-final clash was a special day for Irish rugby.

Ireland 27 England 19

Old Crescent 14

THOSE who believe it’s tough at the top should try life at the opposite end. As coach of the Irish team, Murray Kidd didn’t always enjoy the best of times; nowadays, director of rugby at second division Sunday’s Well, life is no picnic either.

EIGHT years ago, Aidan O'Halloran, Ger Earls and Niall McNamara played crucial roles when Young Munster captured the All-Ireland League for the only time, after a famous victory over St Mary’s College at Lansdowne Road.

SATURDAY was a day of many surprises in Division Two of the AIL, when many of the top teams were surprisingly turned over by supposed ‘lesser’ opposition.

THE Moyross area of Limerick has the sort of reputation places like Beruit would like to shed.

Thomond were in early festive mood and scored five tries in this demolition of struggling UCC.