My night at raucous Ravenhill

OVER the course of last season, when Munster won the Heineken Cup, which province had the best home support? You’re absolutely right – it was Ulster.

It’s strange how, in our eagerness to proclaim our greatness down here, we seem to forget about the men from the northern province. Their Heineken Cup win in 1999 is dismissed – no English clubs took part that year, ergo, competition diminished; likewise their winning of the Celtic League last season – lesser competition, isn’t it?

It’s the same with Ravenhill; we’re all talk about Thomond Park, about Munster’s fantastic Heineken Cup home record, about Munster’s magnificent support. What about Ravenhill? What about the Ulster support? Ask any player from any of the other Irish provinces, ask any player from any team to have visited Ravenhill, they’ll tell you – it’s as intimidating a ground as there is in rugby, anywhere.