Paul O’Connell was always one tough Cookie

It was 1995 when a certain “tall, gangly looking fella with a red head of hair” arrived at Young Munster for the first time.

Gerry Casey, the hero of three Munster Cup victories for the proud Limerick club between 1980 and 1980, had moved on to the presidency and quickly became aware of the considerable potential of the youngster in question.

His name? Paul O’Connell.

“Paul’s father, Mick, had played for the club and was obviously a powerful influence on him and even though swimming was more his sporting interest at the time, he quickly settled down with us,” Casey recalled.

“He was attending Ardscoil Rís at the time where he also benefited from the coaching of Des Harty and made the Irish Schools team.

“He flew through the ranks down in Clifford Park. He was a different kind of youngster. He was mad to train. He was mad to learn. We knew we had a very special player on our hands.

“Even though the professional game was well under way at the time, the All-Ireland League was still hugely important.

“I remember a game against Cork Constitution down in Temple Hill, a terrific crowd, a terrific atmosphere, a great game even if Con won. Ronan O’Gara was still playing for Con. That was the end of Munster contracted players representing their clubs.”

Even so, O’Connell was still able to help Young Munster win a Munster Junior Cup in 1999 as a 19 year-old in an infamous Thomond Park final against Kilfeacle. Any doubts as to his toughness were removed that day!

“One of the things I remember best about Paul O’Connell was he gave every game 100% whether he was wearing a Young Munster jersey or a Lions jersey,” said Casey. “It was his nature. He was always involved.

“Even when he was a world figure in the game, he would turn up to see our teams, whether it was U20s, juniors, seniors, whatever. The games mightn’t even be of any great significance.

“There were times when he would put his head into the dressing room and wish the lads the best of luck, just to let them know they had his backing. He would ring the club and ask if there was anything he could do to help.

“There was one notable occasion that amply illustrated this point. When he was appointed captain of the Lions tour of South Africa in 2009, Paul gladly agreed to a dinner in his honour in the Castletroy Park Hotel. We packed the place out. And we could have sold it many times over. He was that popular. We were that proud of him – and it wasn’t just Young Munster but the whole of Limerick as well.”

There were times when the club wasn’t faring as well as they would have liked in the AIL. Once or twice, a distress call went out for help to O’Connell. He was invariably there to do what he could on the following night.

“Just a few months ago, it was decided to honour Paul with the Honorary Life Presidency of Young Munster. It was prior to an AIL game against Cork Con and we had a full house. He spoke for 20 minutes, recalling his time with us from that first year back in 1995 and his first coach, Kieran Kiely, right through all the others and up to the present. He received a standing ovation that went on for ages and he stayed on for ages afterwards signing autographs and posing for photographs.”