Lions selection a moment to remember for Hugo Keenan

The Ireland full back watched the squad announcement with housemate Ronan Kelleher.

DUE SOUTH: Hugo Keenan at Leinster training this week. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

When Leinster training was done and dusted last Thursday week, Hugo Keenan skedaddled for his gaff down the road in Clonskeagh.

Ronan Kelleher is a housemate, a teammate and a friend, so the pair turned on Sky Sports at two o’clock and watched Ieuen Evans read out the names of the 38 players who would tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions.

Kelleher’s name came out 12th, Keenan’s 28th, the latter prompting a fist bump and a hug. It was a memorable moment for two men who have “been through thick and thin” but others wanted to share the moment.

“I’ve been living with him for two-and-a-half years and he would be one of my best mates in here, so that was a great moment,” said Keenan. “Will Connors is my neighbour, unfortunately. You don’t get any peace and quiet, he lives next door.

“Ross Byrne, Max Deegan and Ciaran Frawley had gone over to his house to watch it. So when both of our names were called out they barged in the front door. It was cool. They were sort of hiding in anticipation and hoping that we would get the nod.” 

Leinster had a dozen players named but even their dressing-room had its disappointments. Robbie Henshaw isn’t pencilled in for a third tour, Sam Prendergast will have to wait for a first. As will the injured Caelan Doris.

“Caelan lived with us for about two years, up until about six months ago,” said Keenan. “He would be one of our best mates as well so you couldn’t help but think of him. We all knew that he was going to be on the plane.

“It was probably more a case of whether he was going to get captain or not so you couldn’t help but feel for him. I’d only seen him an hour before the announcement. It’s gutting for him, just the whole timing of it. He’s such a good player and leader. Yeah, he’ll be missed.” 

For Keenan, it will be a second huge ambition realised in the space of two summers having played with the Ireland sevens team in the Olympics last year: a team now disbanded, as the IRFU confirmed in midweek.

Speaking before that news dropped, Keenan is one of only two ‘full-time’ full-backs in the Lions squad. Blair Kinghorn is the other and he likely won’t be available to the squad until the back end of June due to commitments with Toulouse.

Marcus Smith and Elliott Daly offer further cover but the priority here and now is Leinster’s bid for a first URC title.

“Blair was always going to be named with the form he has been in. Now you’re not so much thinking about that, you’re thinking about the game this week and knockout rugby. Hopefully that will lead you into a bit of form going into a tour like that.”