Kearney aims to be centre of attraction

IN the angst-ridden final months of the Eddie O’Sullivan era, Robert Kearney was one of the few bright lights to emerge from a crisis-hit Six Nations.

In his first European campaign and over the five games, he produced solid and sporadically spectacular performances. But it wasn’t until he danced and dazzled around New Zealand and Australian terrain in the summer that the rugby world stood up and took notice.

Southern hemisphere press were effusive in their praise of the young buck from Carlingford in Louth. Clever footwork, aerial prowess, attack-mindedness and a booming left boot were the hallmarks of Ireland’s best player on tour, and it seemed he had made the Ireland No 15 position his own following those jaw dropping performances in the Cake Tin in Wellington and Melbourne’s Telstra Dome.