Heineken Cup - Courage and skill win the day

SPORT is a mirror of so much of what we do in the serious part of our lives that its role in shaping attitudes and character cannot be underestimated.

In that context Leinster’s Heineken European Cup win in Cardiff on Saturday was truly inspirational.

For those with only a passing interest in sport it was just another game surrounded by too much hype and noise, but to all of Ireland’s sports fans it was a victory for the characteristics that have made it so easy to be proud of so many of our international competitors.

More or less written off at half time — they trailed Northampton 22-6 — Leinster, in one of the great refusals to accept defeat, were not to be denied.

Grit and skill, courage and determination were mixed in a way that makes the lesson for the serious part of our lives so obvious as not to need any explanation.