‘Loved the world over’
Powell, whose friendship with Munster, Irish and Lions legend Keane goes back decades, said rugby had truly lost one of the most loved characters and a legend of the game.
“Moss had an ability on the field that no one could doubt, and his record at club, provincial and international level speaks for itself. University College Cork, Lansdowne, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions all benefited from his presence and that reputation will live long in the memories of not only Irish rugby, but world rugby.
“My own memories of Moss were his great belief in the ethos of the game which was evident in how he related to players from all levels in our club Lansdowne.
‘Loved the world over’
“IT did not matter whether you were an Ireland international or playing for the third Bs; he always had time for everybody in the club and he will be sorely missed.”
Munster, with whom Keane played for over a decade, during which he participated in the historic 1978 victory over the All Blacks, have through chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald, expressed profound sadness.
“All the attributes that made him such a distinguished rugby player were mirrored in his life away from the rugby field,” said Fitzgerald. “His was a friendly, compassionate though humorous nature and it made him such a well-loved character.
“The courage and tenacity he showed on the rugby fields of the world were just as evident in the way he dealt with his illness over the last number of months. The void his passing leaves in Munster and Irish rugby cannot be underestimated but pales in comparison to the loss and pain his wife Ann, daughters Anne Marie and Sarah and family are enduring. All our sympathy goes to them at this sad time.”
Former Ireland and Lions colleague Stewart McKinney was devastated by the news of Moss’s death.
“I just cannot believe it. He was a larger than life character,” said McKinney, now living in London. “Just before Andy Ripley died, I spoke to him and he said that in our day it was all a love story... the love of your team-mates, the love of the opposition after you had kicked lumps out of them, and the love of a great game.
“And thinking about that, Mossy was loved the world over both by team-mates and opposition alike.
“Nothing epitomised Mossy more than the Lions tour to New Zealand in 1976. It was not a great team then. But there was a great team spirit, and a lot of that was down to Mossy, who kept us laughing through thick and thin.
“He was a man of great strength. In fact he didn’t know his own strength. When he had a few pints, you feared for your life when he hugged you.
“It was on that tour to New Zealand that I saw Mossy drunk for probably the only time in his life. We had just kicked lumps out of Canterbury, and afterwards, Mossy and Alex ‘Grizzly’ Wyllie got together, and the New Zealander was the only person I witnessed drink Mossy under the table. His death is a sad, sad loss to rugby and sporting life in general.”
Although Keane’s first love was always Munster, he spent much of his life living and working in Dublin and Portarlington where he crossed paths, and sometimes swords, with thousands of Leinster rugby personnel during his time as a player with Lansdowne.
Leinster spokesperson Kevin Fitzpatrick described Keane as “a true icon and legend of Irish rugby”.
“His performances mirrored the incredible influence and presence he manifested, which transcended rugby grounds across the world.
“It is sad that he was taken from us early, but he fought a prolonged illness with the aggression and fervour which typified his very existence as a player.
“A larger than life figure and a gifted sportsman which reflected in his abilities both at Gaelic football and the game of rugby, where he made his name, he was a great friend to many and he will be both sadly missed and fondly remembered by a generation of rugby followers in equal measures.”
* MUNSTER confirmed yesterday evening that a minute’s silence will be held in memory of Keane before the clash with London Irish on Saturday.
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