Hunt inspired by spirit of Leinster’s Sexton
“Seeing Leinster and how they won the rugby — we didn’t win it but we did enough in the end to produce a magical moment,” said the Waterford man.
“I think Jonny Sexton is a bit of a fanatic but I looked to him yesterday and thought I have got to keep going.
“We still lost the game but it kept me going and luckily I put one in the top of the net.”
Hunt’s wonderful goal carried with it a £50m price tag — as the estimated worth of keeping Wolves in the Premier League and he believes he has never scored a more important one in his life on the most difficult day of his career.
Hunt avoided his own personal hat-trick of relegation misery after suffering the heartache of losing Premier League status with Reading and Hull City, but his 87th-minute goal at Molineux and his third of his disappointing season will stay with him for the rest of his life.
The winger’s goal was worthy of keeping any team in the top flight — but only after Wolves had trailed 3-0 at half time and had to duck for cover to avoid manager Mick McCarthy in the dressing room, before the manager provided the inspiration for the great escape.
“At half time I couldn’t look the manager in the eye. I don’t think anyone could. We didn’t know what to say. We were down in the dumps. Mick got us going again with his team talk.
“It was the most stressful day of my football career. I’ll enjoy the moment.
“The couple of goals we got were vital because it changed the way other teams had to play. Birmingham had shut up shop and then they had to go for it in the end and got beat.
“I heard the fans singing, ‘we need one more goal’ and I don’t think I have hit a more sweet shot or a more important one. We were mentally strong, thank God.”
McCarthy went through every emotion on a draining afternoon when his side were in the relegation places twice and looked doomed until Hunt came up trumps to keep them up on goals scored ahead of local rivals Birmingham City, before Roman Pavlyuchenko’s second goal sentenced Alex McLeish’s team to the Championship.
“I am thrilled and I am very proud of the players. I am shattered physically and emotionally. I went through the wringer. I feel like I should be dancing up and down with my drawers on my head. I can’t do that, because I have to stay professional, but that is how I feel.”
Steve Kean’s side produced seven positive results from their final nine games and rounded the season off with a four-game unbeaten run, something which Kean believes points to exciting times ahead.
Despite the rumours about Rafa Benitez being lined up for his post, Kean has held positive meetings with Indian owners Venky’s and said: “We want to keep our best players and keep the group together. The future is exciting.
“We know what areas of the team we would like to improve.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
