Leinster’s Sean wins battle of brothers

It is one thing to win an interprovincial derby, but Leinster’s Sean Cronin had another reason to be satisfied with his night’s work at Thomond Park after getting bragging rights over his brother.

Born six years apart, hooker Sean had never come face to face with younger sibling and Munster scrum-half Neil Cronin on a rugby pitch before Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 clash in their hometown of Limerick.

Both came off the bench for their provinces but it was adopted Leinsterman Sean who earned the right to celebrate following the visitors’ 13-6 victory, watched by the brothers’ parents.

“I think my dad had two jerseys on so whichever way it was going he was going to whip that one out,” Sean Cronin, 33, said of the split loyalties in the parental home. “No, we didn’t swap jerseys, I don’t think Johnny O’Hagan, our bagman, would be too impressed if I came back with no jersey on.

“No, it’s special, we might get a photo later on but he’s probably disappointed after the game. For me it was a bit special because there’s five or six years between us and I’ve never played against him.”

Their lack of pitch time together is explained by Neil Cronin’s late arrival into the professional ranks. A schoolteacher playing AIL rugby with Garryowen, his first full-time contract came with Munster last season and his big brother was very proud.

“He worked his arse off to get in (at Munster), to get a contract and it was fantastic,” Sean said.

You never know with rotation at this time of year either so it was great and at least we can say we played against each other.

“I didn’t come across him too many times on the pitch, tried to drag him into a ruck at the end there but it was a special moment for both of us.

“He’ll be disappointed. I might pop into his house tomorrow. I’m going to stay down tonight and stay with the family so I might pop in and see him tomorrow and see how he’s feeling.”