Humble Hayes happy to sign off on a high note

JOHN HAYES admitted the words of Roy Keane a few years back were very much in his mind as he contemplated last night’s farewell appearance for Munster at Thomond Park last night.

“Roy came in to chat to us and told us that nobody was bigger than the team, that you are only here for a while and that you should enjoy it while you can,” he said. “He pointed out that he had seen great players come and go, that you had to give it everything you could, always appreciating that the end of your career would come some day. Even then he could see that his time was coming.”

Hayes, who made his 217th appearance in a Munster jersey a winning one as his side saw off Connacht by 24-9, was delighted at the outcome and paid particular tribute to the several young players being gradually fed into the system.