Leinster's adopted Kiwis prove pivotal in Irish sport's grandest cathedral

People have talked for years about who the most important player in Irish rugby is, whether that be Johnny Sexton or Tadhg Furlong. It’s Gibson-Park right now.

Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-Park is presented with the Investec Player of the Match Award Pic ©INPHO/James Crombie

Skim through the 15 games, amounting to 1,200-plus minutes, that were played during rugby’s first residency in Croke Park and the sight of Shane Horgan mid-air and catching Ronan O’Gara’s crosskick in the corner is the image that stands out a country mile.

It is a picture that would hang in the Louvre were Horgan French and it was lauded as a score that summed up the unusual crossover of codes – a Corkman punting, a Meathman plucking the ball from the skies - on one of the most historic days in Irish sport at GAA HQ.