Farewell the Currow colossus

MUNSTER and Ireland stalwart Mick Galwey last night credited Moss Keane, who died yesterday, as one of the key inspirations behind the province’s remarkable European success in the professional era.

Galwey was one of several rugby personalities to pay tribute to the 62-year-old ex Irish and Lions international who lost a 20-month battle with cancer yesterday.

Second row Keane began his international career against France in Paris in 1974 and continued to play at the very top level of the game for over 10 years until his final international cap against Scotland in 1984.

During that time he amassed 51 caps for Ireland and was also part of the team that secured an historic Triple Crown in 1982, the first Ireland had won since 1949. Keane was also capped for the British and Irish Lions, playing 12 games including a test match on the 1977 New Zealand tour. As well as serving his clubs, UCC and Lansdowne, with great distinction, he was a formidable force for Munster throughout his career and was a member of the famous team that defeated the All Blacks in Thomond Park in 1978.

He is the first of that legendary team to die.

Galwey stated yesterday there were few greater than his fellow Currow, Co Kerry man who himself was inspired by the elevation of brothers Tommy and Mick Doyle to Irish international status in the 1960’s.

Together with Galwey, they ultimately formed a remarkable group of four from a tiny GAA village near Castleisland to represent Ireland.

“It’s remarkable but when we announced the news to the squad this morning there was genuine sadness from even the younger and overseas lads who would only have heard of him,’’ Galwey said. “But it was the contribution from people like Moss Keane on which the foundations of Munster rugby was built.

“Were it not for the contribution of that 1978 team, the Munster history wouldn’t quite have the same aura about it. Certainly when I was young and starting out with Munster it was special to know that I was putting on the same number jersey that Moss would have had before.

“I remember in 2000 when we played Toulouse in the Heineken Cup over in France before the days of the travelling army; we had about 3,000 people over there but the faces I picked out from the crowd that day were Moss and his wife – and it was inspirational to see him on a warm French day, with a big red Kerry head up on top of him!

“I have so many great memories of Moss, we were neighbours, we were friends, he was my hero growing up; were it not for Moss Keane I might never have played rugby. Growing up in Currow in the 1970’s was all about Gaelic football. I remember the 1978 All-Ireland football final when Kerry beat the Dubs in Croke Park and Bomber Liston got three goals only for Moss Keane, a few weeks later, to help Munster beat the All Blacks. As a youngster, I didn’t know whether I wanted to be a Bomber Liston or a Moss Keane.’’

Galwey added: “One of the greatest compliments I could pay is that I never heard anyone say a bad word about him; over the years people were always asking after him, long before he got sick. But since he became ill there was a genuine concern about his well being. The world is certainly a worse place for his passing.

“If there is a suitable way to describe him, you would say he was a great man, great craic off the pitch but when he played he played for the jersey. He left a legacy that will never be forgotten.”

Keane’s 1978 second row colleague Brendan Foley, who packed down alongside Keane many times for Munster and Ireland, also remembered him fondly.

“As friends, we will all miss him but none more than his close and extended family. If you ever went to meet Mossie you would always be sure to meet some of the family as well,’’ Foley said.

But while yesterday was a sad day, Foley still managed a smile when recalling the character that made Keane such a loved figure throughout his life. “Mossie could get away with saying things to people, especially women, that nobody else would have,’’ Foley said. “He was a real larger than life character and will be sadly missed by us all because of the special personality he was. No matter where you go in the world, people would know Mossie and he would know a lot of them.

“It was amazing, even though he hasn’t been around Limerick much these last number of years, but many, many people stopped to ask after him because they knew he was sick. There would be a genuine concern and affection for him from a wide range of people.”