“Earls jogged alongside me and asked was I planning to retire at the end of the season...”

KEITH Earls has rugby pedigree. His father was an integral member of arguably the most aggressive and unquestionably the most feared pack of forwards in Irish club rugby history.

Ger Earls might not be as famous as his son but back in the early 90s, mention of his name, in connection with the Young Munster forwards, struck fear into his opponents. Young Munster were uncompromising. In the glory days of the All-Ireland League over 20,000 people would turn up to savour Limerick derbies between Young Munster and their local opponents. And at the core of this ferocious team was Ger Earls.

1993 was the crowning moment in Young Munster’s history. The unthinkable happened when St Mary’s, who were favourites to win the head-to-head with the Limerick hard men, were beaten. It was the Dublin side’s willingness to throw the ball about that was their undoing. A pass by Nick Barry was intercepted by the Young Munster openside wing forward, who sprinted nearly the length of the pitch to score the deciding try.