So nearly a legendary victory

Over a decade ago, Ireland almost pulled off a remarkable victory over the mighty All Blacks. Barry Coughlan recalls the day Ronny Carey almost became a national hero.

IT seems light years away now. The date was May 29, 1992, the venue was Carisbrook, Dunedin — the ground known as the House of Pain, because the New Zealand All Blacks had never lost there.

Ronny Carey, a then RUC officer, felt the pain more than most. Fourteen years on, he is still grieving that Ireland failed in their gallant bid to beat their southern hemisphere opponents. It ended in a 24-21 victory for the All Blacks, but Carey came agonisingly close to securing a sensational Irish win.