Munster fans begin journey to Marseilles ahead of semi-final

The migration has begun. The Munster hordes began departing for Marseilles yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Toulon, while hundreds gathered to bid bon voyage and bonne chance to the team as they departed for France.

If Paul O’Connell and company can show as much dedication to the cause as some of the supporters, then surely another date in Cardiff beckons.

Take Sally Nagle from Montenotte in Cork City, who, along with mother Sabina and father Ken, was among the throng boarding the Ryanair 4.55pm flight to Marseilles from Cork.

Back in 2006, she was on a transplant list for a kidney, but Munster’s appearance in the final that year prompted her to take herself off the list for that weekend — she even brought her dialysis machine with her.

“No one can question our credentials,” Sabina said of the Nagles’ dedication to Munster Rugby. They have already bought tickets for the final and are hoping the Rob Penney’s men oblige by winning tomorrow.

They, like many others, travelled out to the south of France yesterday on the Cork flight. Two charter flights, both full, depart this morning, while a flight from Cork to Nice last night was also full.

More Munster fans left from Shannon and Dublin, and others will do likewise today, with estimates of more than 8,000 fans expected in the ground by the 3.30pm kick-off.

Among the throng will be Sarah Williams from Douglas and her friend Catherine Anne Field from Skibbereen.

“I am actually confident,” Sarah said of tomorrow’s match, albeit also admitting to some nerves about the absence of captain Peter O’Mahony and the possibility of Jonny Wilkinson’s boot doing some damage.

Some fans have paid as much as €1,000 each to get to the game, while the team was accompanied on their flight yesterday from Shannon by around 60 fans who managed to secure seats on the special, two-night trip, paying up to €525 each for the privilege.

While Jet2 flight ESX-6112 left Shannon shortly after 2pm, the invasion of Marseilles will continue today on scheduled and charter flights with many travelling via London, Paris, Poitiers, and Nice.

Sinead Doyle from Limerick, one of those who travelled on the team flight, said: “We are so excited and delighted and just can’t wait to get there. It’s going to be tough. We’ve had a tough time the past few years but it’s hard to know really.”

Munster Fans: Tweet us your selfies over the weekend using #MunFans