Humble Hanrahan happy to continue fine Currow tradition

Munster rookie JJ Hanrahan could hardly have asked for a better first competitive that Thomond Park on Friday night.

Hanrahan scored two tries and won the man of the match award with a top class display that he figures was inspired by support of family and friends from the terraces.

The Currow native is another of an impressive line of players produced from the locality and there were plenty cheering for him on biggest stage yet: “My mother and sister were there as well as some friends from Currow and some lads from Rockwell, there was a mini network of support and that was a proud moment.”

Hanrahan, who starred for Ireland under 20’s in the recent World Cup in South Africa, has been tipped for the top and he is proud that he is carrying on a long tradition from the area, following on players such as Tommy and Mick Doyle, Moss Keane and Mick Galwey, all of whom became Munster and Irish legends.

“I don’t see it as pressure (to follow players like that) but it’s exciting when you think of the guys from the area that went before me; it’s inspirational to know how many people have come out of that small village, if I can achieve a tenth of what they have achieved I’d be a very happy man.”

Hanrahan is still coming to terms with his storybook first start but insisted that he would keep his feet firmly on the ground. “It’s really exciting to get a couple of tries, to get the ball rolling, but what I’m really happy with was the performance of the team.”

If Hanrahan’s performance was the centre of much after-match discussion, he’s not taking anything for granted. “I’ll be looking at the couple of tackles I missed as well,” he said. “It was a dream come true to get man of the match, but you need good individual performances in this club, you need to produce the displays if you want to stay in the team; that goes from 1 to 15 because there is serious competition, that’s the drive in this group.

“Once you get the first try out of the way it builds a bit of confidence but I don’t get deflected by the thought of tries, I just want to be able to concentrate on doing my job as part of the team and contributing in that way.

“It would be nice to get another opportunity but there is serious competition there, there are people ahead and coming up behind.”