Never underestimate Thomond factor, says Foley

CANCEL that obituary. Reports of Munster’s demise are, to borrow from Mark Twain, greatly exaggerated.

Stung by media criticism of their performance in Perpignan, wounded at having been written off as a spent force in the Heineken Cup and outraged by reports that Gloucester were rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of turning up at Thomond Park and rolling over the home side, Munster players afforded themselves a wry smile as the magnitude of their achievements sank in.

And through the grins and the laughter emerged words that revealed the pride, hurt, desire and spirit which drove Munster on to turn in a near faultless performance and deliver the victory which will go down as one of the greatest in European Cup history.