“We’ve shown our stomach for battle”

THE contrast in emotions was stark between captain Ken McGrath and the hapless John Mullane at the final whistle.

As the ecstatic skipper joyfully accepted the prized silverware from Munster Council chairman Sean Fogarty, Mullane stood just yards with the tears flowing down his dejected face.

Colleagues embraced him, reassuring him he had been as integral a part of this famous victory as every other team member. But, in truth, their comforting words cut little ice with a man whose early second-half dismissal had clearly hurt him to the core.