Michael Kiernan steps out of famous shadow to show off his skills

Ronan O’Gara may beg to differ given his rich catalogue of crucial contributions for province and country, but Michael Kiernan’s kick that clinched a rare Triple Crown in 1985 surely stands alone as the most famous drop goal in the country’s history.

It’s a moment that has appeared on our screens at regular intervals for over 30 years now and the three-pointer, struck against England at a wild and weathered Lansdowne Road, has been run time and again in the Kiernan house itself. Not by the man himself, or even his children, but when young Paul Kiernan’s buddies call over they sometimes slip the footage into the DVD player and josh with the former British and Irish Lion about a moment in time that has gone down in history.

“He just laughs it off,” said Paul, who is part of Nigel Carolan’s Ireland U20 squad this year that kicks off the Six Nations against Wales in Donnybrook on Friday. “I’ve seen it a few times, it pops up on the TV now and again as well so it is always nice to see it.”