Cathal Dennehy: A soaking, stinking Bath night among the brave and the faithful

Having left The Rec all too aware that things can't get any worse, Munster fans will hopefully have more to savour this weekend

NOT RUSHING BACK: Munster's Tadhg Beirne with supporters after the Investec Champions Cup Round 1 clash at the Recreation Ground, Bath. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher

Even to the brave and faithful, some things – it seems – are impossible. There are 55 minutes on the clock at The Rec and Munster’s 4,000-odd fans are damp, downbeat and devoid of the cash they’ve shelled out to watch this grisly spectacle.

On the rain-soaked pitch, the tap has run dry on their team’s ideas. They’re 21 points down, running head-first into an impenetrable black wall, Bath doing the rugby equivalent of pressing a palm against the foreheads of a smaller, weaker rival and smiling, knowing Munster don’t have the reach to land a blow. The woman sitting behind me has finally surrendered all hope.