Horan: Munster still a Heineken Cup force

The doubt really set in after Munster had lost at home by a single point to Leinster in April.

It was a third successive defeat by their fierce domestic rivals – and by a combined total of 50 points – that confirmed the truth they were no longer the strongest team in Ireland, never mind Europe.

Munster bristled at suggestions they were a fading force, a collection of grizzled veterans who were coming to the end of the road.

They roared their defiance with a comfortable 33-19 victory over Northampton in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals a week later, but the result just papered over the cracks.

Munster have always been capable of producing outstanding performances at their Thomond Park stronghold and will continue to do so.

But in the aftermath of their equally comprehensive 18-7 defeat by Biarritz in the semi-finals the following month, they sat in the bowels of San Sebastian’s Anoeta stadium fielding questions on whether they remained a dominant force in Europe.

The ranks of the two-time Heineken Cup champions remain full of ageing warriors such as John Hayes, Marcus Horan, David Wallace and Ronan O’Gara.

Fresher talent such as Keith Earls and Tomas O’Leary has emerged, but not in sufficient numbers to suggest Munster’s great dynasty will continue.

However, 33-year-old Ireland prop Horan is adamant that they remain a force in Europe.

“We’ve been written off before and it drives us. It’s amazing how one game can turn things around,” said Horan.

“There’s a lot of fight left in the guys and defeats like the one against Biarritz last season only made the fellas stronger.

“We’ve been here before. We’ve had 10 years of it but still came back so I can’t see why we can’t come back from it again.

“We are ageing. We’re all getting older but a lot of us are still playing some great rugby.

“There’s still great drive. There’s a great mix of young players as well. It’s always important to have a mix like that.

“No matter what team you are, as the years go on people will always say that you’re getting too old. It’s an excuse that people will use.

“But the drive is definitely there. Guys are keen and it still means so much to them.”

This year Munster are fourth favourites behind Toulouse, Leicester and Clermont to win a third Heineken Cup.

But they have been drawn in a difficult group alongside Aviva Premiership high-flyers London Irish, Welsh heavyweights Ospreys and Jonny Wilkinson’s big-spending Toulon.

Such competition ensures they will have done well just to survive the group stage, but head coach Tony McGahan is targeting nothing less than reaching the business end of the tournament once again.

“It’s very difficult to put the feeling into words after losing two semi-finals in consecutive years,” said McGahan.

“We really feel that they’re two wasted opportunities to get into the final.

“Last season we were written off all season but still reached the semi-finals.

“To fall away while not too far from the final is very disappointing but this is a very strong group.

“We’ll respond to this in the right way and make sure we’re in contention this time.

“You have to get everything right on the day in big games. The last two years we haven’t delivered at the semi-final stage.”