Pádraig Hoare: Irish hearts are broken but our love for these rugby heroes will go on

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE: Josh Van der Flier, Garry Ringrose, and Caelan Doris were among the Ireland players consoled on the sideline by family members after being put out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

For a titanic 80 minutes, 30-plus men stiffened the sinews, summoned up the blood, and disguised fair nature with hard-favoured rage, in what will surely go down in history as one of the all-time great contests in any sport.

Shakespeare himself would have struggled to write such drama, as Ireland and New Zealand mauled, pushed, pulled, and ran until their bodies were ravaged by sheer exhaustion, driven on by a sea of green and black as the roars from the stands reached supersonic levels.

THE WAY WE WERE: An entirely different atmosphere at the sideline on October 7 when players including David Kilcoyne celebrated with family members after Ireland’s win over Scotland. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

If the retiring Johnny Sexton, the 101-cap bona fide Cork legend Peter O’Mahony, and the rest of Ireland’s rugby squad felt down and out on Saturday night, then surely the love and admiration that radiated from the stands of the Stade de France will have provided at least a semblance of comfort in a dark sporting hour.

There are more important and grave events happening in the world right now, but that doesn’t mean we cannot empathise with the 33 men and their coaching staff who left Ireland’s shores last month to attempt to plunder the greatest treasure in their sport: The Rugby World Cup.

‘You’re still the best, dad’. So said Johnny Sexton’s son, Luca, in a sentiment echoed by Ireland Rugby fans who felt the players' pain at being knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in Stade de France, Paris, on Saturday night. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

There was no rancour or recrimination from Irish fans in the Stade de France — this is Ireland, and we will always love our own, even if our hearts are broken time and time again.

And, by God, they were broken this time.

The vice-like grip of Jordie Barrett of New Zealand at the death is all that stood between Ireland and a historic first Rugby World Cup semi-final — despite Ireland not being near their best, and New Zealand playing like their lives depended on it, that was the difference — one man clinging with all his might to ensure another man didn’t touch the ball down with his hand.

That’s top-level sport.

Dejected Ireland fans after the Rugby World Cup adventure came to an end in Paris on Saturday night. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA

Despite our world No 1 ranking, we always knew that the All Blacks at the World Cup were going to pull out all the stops and we would have to be at our very best.

Now we must go again — the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia will surely bring out similar numbers of Irish supporters daring to believe once more.

We’ll never give up on these lads. Never.

Munster legends Peter O'Mahony and Keith Earls,— whose retirement was later confirmed by Andy Farrell — embrace in the wake of defeat by the All Blacks in their Rugby World Cup quarter final in Paris on Saturday. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Johnny Sexton’s son was captured on camera consoling his dad with the most profound and perfect words for one so young.

“You’re still the best, dad,” young Luca said, encapsulating the thoughts of every Irish person in the ground and watching at home.

If Peter O’Mahony didn’t know it beforehand, he’s going to know it now when he arrives back on Leeside — his place as yet another Cork-born sporting hero has been cemented with the way he turned back the years to play some of his best-ever rugby, especially throughout this tournament.

Ireland fans console each other after Ireland was knocked out by the All Blacks in their extraordinary quarter-final battle in Paris on Saturday night.  Picture: Harry Murphy

It is cruel to think that for him this could have been his World Cup swansong.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell has confirmed that the race is definitely over for another Munster stalwart and centurion Keith Earls who, just a couple of weeks ago, celebrated reaching 100 caps with an acrobatic try.

The days of credit union loans in anticipation of recreating the magic of Italia ‘90 in football may be a long way off, but the Irish rugby team have carved out a unique following of their own.

We get knocked down, but we get up again 

The Rugby World Cup may be over for our lads but, as sure as night follows day, France will once again be awash with green when Ireland visit the Orange Vélodrome in Marseille next February for the first Six Nations fixture of 2024.

Ireland fans will be back in France next February for the first Six Nations fixture of 2024. They’ll be in Twickenham in their droves a month later. And then in the Aviva. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

They’ll be in Twickenham in their droves a month later, while the Aviva Stadium will once again be rocking as they play Italy, Wales, and Scotland.

Losing to New Zealand may be a heartbreaker, but these lads have a way of making the heart heal.

Men like Johnny Sexton may sit in the stands from now on, but those who come after him will be privileged to know what unconditional love feels like.