Muldoon seizing his Ireland opportunity where Eagles dare

HE’S Portumna born and bred, has the Cannings and Damien Hayes as neighbours, and was good enough to win an All-Ireland minor hurling medal with Galway in 2000.

But when the rugby bug caught him at 16, John Muldoon has quietly risen through the ranks to be on the verge of winning his second Ireland cap against the USA Eagles in Santa Clara tomorrow.

The last 12 months have been the making of the 26-year-old back-row forward. Installed as Connacht captain by Michael Bradley at the start of the season, Muldoon was a key figure when Irish rugby’s Cinderella province hit the headlines in overcoming both Leinster and Munster at the Galway Sportsground.