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.

“Paul O’Connell would have liked it for the Limerick parade though so I’m sure he asked for it. But Pat had his word gone in early last week so it was always coming here [if they won]. You see Pat could ask for that last week while Paul was concentrating on winning the match!”

However, even after Ireland won the match, it was still touch and go on whether the trophy would make it, given Monday night’s team festivities in Dublin.

“He was just about able to get here on time because the parade started at 12.30pm. He basically left the hotel and came straight here and, as you can imagine, there were a few sore heads,” said Roy.

Fitzgerald became the first man from a junior club to rise up the ladder and lay claim to the IRFU president’s office last year. Yesterday he took centre stage at the event with a special piece of silverware in his hands and the crowds retired to the clubhouse afterwards where hundreds queued up to get their picture taken with the trophy. “There’s been a huge reaction to it and the club is buzzing,” said Davis.

“Right now there are kids from seven right up to 15 in all kinds of rugby jerseys out playing on the pitch. Inside, the club is busting. There’s a huge line formed to get pictures.

“It’s drawing people who are not just associated to the club. It’s stirred the whole thing. I’d say there are a few hundred here to get their pictures taken, if not more.”

The club has been one of the most progressive in the country with two Prunty pitches laid and floodlights up for the past 20 years. However yesterday will go down as one of their most memorable occasions.

“Pat’s been here with us for a long time and would be here at any major function we have. He held pride of place on podium and the fact we had the trophy there made it all the more special.”