Youngsters add new chapter to Munster’s saga of miracles

A decade and a day separated the miracle match and miracle men from those with designs on joining them in Munster’s hall of fame.

Five tries and a bonus point win later, a place in the 2013 Heineken Cup quarter-finals was confirmed and hooker Mike Sherry believes the youngsters of Munster have created their own bit of history.

In 2003 Munster needed to beat Gloucester by 27 points and score four tries to keep their European dreams alive. On Sunday against Racing Metro at Thomond Park, Munster’s task was less demanding — just the four tries and a win would do — but without icons Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara and a host of retired stars it was daunting.

Job done, there was little surprise when try-scorer Sherry volunteered to meet the media wearing a broad smile and speaking of how pride was a motivating factor.

An emotional James Coughlan had already touched on the subject of the unsung heroes needing to prove themselves on a par with some of the great players of the past but Sherry took it a little further.

“Yeah, it has been ten years and a day since the miracle match,” he said, “that was in our minds to do something special to create a bit of Munster history ourselves. Everyone knows about Munster in Europe but they don’t know about this group, this group of players coming in.

“We really wanted to make an announcement for ourselves. We want to take the mantle on now and do what Munster have done before. We hadn’t so hopefully we can now.”

A new beginning? He hopes so.

“Yeah, I do, I see Quinny [Alan Quinlan] and Flah [Jerry Flannery] on a regular basis, Paulie [Paul O’Connell] and Rog [Ronan O’Gara], Donners [Donncha O’Callaghan] and Marcus [Horan] are still around and just chatting to them makes you realise what they’ve done before. The work they’ve done to build up what Munster is. For us to add on another layer to that is hugely important and we’re very proud of what we did.”

Sherry will have been pleased with his own performance for the bones of an hour after coming back from injury but directed most of the praise towards three-try hero Simon Zebo, whom he described as potentially the best wing in the world today. He insisted Zebo’s natural skill and current form merits an automatic selection policy from national coach Declan Kidney.

“I don’t know whether I want to mention him [laugh] but yeah he is a superstar at the moment. The whole crowd chanting his name instead of the Fields of Athenry.

“I think that tells you where he is. He deserves it. He delivers on the big occasion. He’s in a league of his own at the moment. I think he’s the best winger, best full back, wherever he plays, in Europe, maybe even the world at the moment.”

Another unsung hero, suggested Sherry, Munster’s open side flanker Tommy O’Donnell who is growing in stature game by game.

“You look at Tommy who has come in to fill Wally’s [David Wallace] shoes. Sean Dougall did a brilliant job at the start of the season but unfortunately got injured and Tommy is playing unbelievably. Every time he gets the ball you’re expecting him to make 50-metre breaks

“He is an example of a guy really taking his chance and buying into it.”