Unlikely Red Farrell feeling extra fortunate to get a second crack at Croker
WET AND WILD: Munster’s Tom Farrell gets stuck in during the BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Ospreys at Virgin Media Park, Cork. Pic INPHO/James Crombie
If Tom Farrell’s only appearance at Croke Park had been for St Brigid’s Castleknock at Cumann na mBunscoil that would have been fine. Which makes running out onto the hallowed turf at GAA HQ in front of 75,000-plus rugby supporters an added bonus following his summer move to Munster.
That Farrell, 31, is at Munster at all was not by design. Nor is it an accident. The former Leinster academy centre’s path could have taken him to France after Connacht cut him loose after seven years in Galway at the end of last season.
The bags may not have been packed but the Dubliner and his nearest and dearest had made the mental move away from Ireland when Munster stepped in with an offer he could not refuse.
Three games in, including a debut against Connacht in URC round one, and Farrell looks like he has been a permanent fixture in the Munster midfield for some time, combining power, deft hands and an excellent reading of the game in front of him. There's also an assurance that helps to diminish any external misgivings about the close-season departure of Antoine Frisch for Toulon.
Saturday brings his biggest challenge, against unbeaten URC leaders Leinster in what promises to be a blockbuster renewal of the red-blue Irish rivalry that has Farrell relishing the possibilities — and an unexpected return to Croke Park.
"I played there in school, but I haven't stepped on to the pitch since then,” Farrell said. "I was at St Brigid's in Castleknock, I played there around 2005 in the Cumann na mBunscoil, across the pitch with the small goals.
"Just when we were young lads, that was the goal to get to Croke Park. In the games leading up to it, you knew the final was there so you're gunning for it. For an empty Croke Park, at that age you don't mind. At that stage you think it's everything, but it'll be a bit more full this weekend.”
Farrell cannot believe his good fortune at this second chance.
"It's crazy, when I saw the fixtures and heard Leinster were revamping the ground and it got announced I was, yeah, very lucky to be involved.
"I used to always go, my Mam's side of the family are from Mayo so the brothers and all that side of the family would be up in Croke Park getting their hearts broken every second year.
"I was at a lot of the Dubs versus Mayo games over the years, the atmosphere was unbelievable.”
Farrell is expecting something similar this time around as a player, certainly different, he said, from his experience of facing Leinster as a Connacht player. For Munster it's a first return to Croke Park since a losing Heineken Cup semi-final there 15 years ago.
“I'd say it will be, because there's that rivalry between Leinster and Munster," he said. "The added edge, the game in 2009 - a replay of that. It probably will be that bit more intense."
Farrell was delighted to kick-start his Munster career with a victory over Connacht though he laughed at the suggestion he wanted to prove a point to his old province after they decided to release him.
"I saw the fixtures and said 'oh f***!' Not that Ì wanted to prove people wrong, that first game going into the first round I was nervous because of a couple of factors; first game in Thomond, I wanted to put my best foot forward in front of the Munster fans and then against my old team Connacht.
"There was a lot of nerves, but thankfully we pipped them in the end and that was satisfying. [I'm] loving it, settled in great so far. Got an early run in the pre-season games and luckily enough managed to carry on into the start of the season.
"With the way the injuries have unfolded, I managed to, needs must, whatever bodies we can get out on the pitch... I was lucky enough in that regard."
He had sensed his exit from Connacht was coming when squad-mates started signing new contracts while no offer came his way. Farrell admitted it had been “a small bit” tough to take.
"Just, you know the lads around you have contracts happening. It's coming into March or April and you'd have usually been signed up before then. The writing was on the wall, but so be it," he reflected.
“To be honest, it's professional sport and I'd seen the way contracts had been at Connacht over the years, a lot of established players had been released and let go and stuff like that.
"It wasn't completely a shock, I was a little bit disappointed but I didn't beat myself too much or let myself get down too much.
"I realised it's pro sport, I moved on and I've landed on my feet here to be honest.
"I was close to going abroad. I was far enough advanced in terms of conversations, but the call came here and changed things pretty quickly… it was a no-brainer… Playing with one of the biggest clubs in Europe, the history behind it and success in recent seasons, it would be stupid not to.
“Personally I'm delighted with how it's going so far. I know rugby is so week to week, you can be cloud nine one week and the next it'll be a disaster.
"At the moment I'm loving it, the way the team is set-up, the coaching staff and the lads. Croke Park this weekend, it's another added incentive."
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