THERE ARE MANY different motivations for Connacht tomorrow but delivering for their captain is chief among them.
John Muldoon has been slugging away for the western province for 13 seasons now and will make his 274th Connacht appearance tomorrow in Murrayfield.
O’Halloran wants to help deliver for Muldoon. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
If anyone deserves a winner’s medal, it’s the Portumna man.
“It’s something we would all like to win, for John as well because he deserves it,” says fullback Tiernan O’Halloran.
“What he has gone through here, how long he has been here, he epitomises what Connacht is. It would be just brilliant to get that win for Mul and get that trophy. He has never won a trophy at Connacht. It would be brilliant for him as well.”
O’Halloran himself is only 25 but points out that he has seen some tough days with Connacht since his own debut in 2009, recalling playing in front of small crowds when there wasn’t even a Clan Terrace at the Sportsground.
The fullback has seen the transformation of the province at first hand, both on the pitch and in the following off it, and says a trophy tomorrow can top off this incredible journey.
“It’s hard to put into words what it would do for this province, because it’s been such an incredible rise this season.
“You walk through town any day of the week now and you see kids in Connacht jerseys all over the place. Five years ago, you might have seen one every three or four weeks; it would be mainly Gaelic football jerseys.
“That’s the way it’s gone. It’s grown in the province as a whole, it’ll hopefully encourage younger guys coming up in school and in Gaeltacht areas especially to pick up a rugby ball as well as a sliotar.
O’Halloran has been in superb form for Connacht. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
“That’ll just help to grow the province. The future of Connacht rugby is going to get better and better if success breeds success. If we can win this weekend, it can grow.”
O’Halloran himself had to turn his back on a promising Gaelic football career in order to concentrate on his rugby dream, having played for the Galway minors.