Fitzgerald steals the silver for Longford

There aren’t too many men who can run the rule over Paul O’Connell but IRFU president Pat Fitzgerald became one of those hallowed few yesterday.

Fitzgerald, a member of Longford RFC, ensured the Six Nations trophy was at the front of the town’s St Patrick’s Day parade where he was honoured with the grand marshall role.

“It was all cloak and dagger,” said club chairman Roy Davis. “We couldn’t say the trophy would be here for sure until this morning but Pat was confident it would be here and committed to it last week if they won.