John Muldoon would always come back for more.
You could knock him to the ground and you could kick him and punch him but he’d always bounce straight back up. On Saturday, the most capped player in Connacht history played his last game in green.
In a send off fitting of a legendary career, the home side walloped Leinster 47-10 in the last game of the regular Pro 14 season. Muldoon’s joy and pride at that result was clear in his interview with Marcus Horan in its immediate aftermath.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I expect it, 47-10, Jesus! I thought I was in dream land when we won the Pro 12, but this… It was some performance by the lads,” he said on TG4.
His last game in professional rugby, he’s played 327 of them for his province. It’s been one hell of a journey for the Portumna man, it’s been one hell of a journey for Connacht.
He who will forever be a Connacht legend has been captain since 2008. A durable, dependable number eight, the 35-year-old was a leader from a young age, a one club man who enjoyed an 18 year professional career at the club.
You could never imagine John Muldoon in another jersey.
Humble is the first word that springs to mind when you think of Connacht’s proudest son. That came across more than ever in that same post match interview where Muldoon appeared uncomfortable in the limelight.
Even though it was always going to be about him, the biggest legend in this club’s history, he didn’t see it that way.
“I’ve an awful lot of admiration for Andrew Brown and a few of the other lads who are leaving, because, I feel that there’s been a bit too much limelight on me.
A Connacth man first and foremost, he will be keeping a close eye on their fortunes in the years to come.
“I said to the lads during the week, if we can get a bit more consistent, we can beat anyone on our day. I’m delighted for the lads. I’m delighted that they showed a performance to the crowd and to everybody…It’s been some rollercoaster.”
Most tellingly, however, was his reaction to the conversion he kicked late on in the game. Never one to showboat or milk it, Muldoon worried that it might have looked slightly disrespectful.
Muldoon booted it into the middle of Galway city, the crowd went wild! https://t.co/OzyeEWUlRK
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 28, 2018
“On one more note, I apologise for taking the conversion, it wasn’t meant in a bad way.”
“I’m delighted with the way the lads performed today and it’s a great send-off”
There’s not a dry eye at the Sportsground as @JohnMuldoon8 pays tribute to @Connachtrugby 😢💪 #GUINNESSPRO14 #ThanksMul
Watch his post-match interview ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5PwDrbYRQt
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 28, 2018
Nobody thought it was disrespectful John. He was presumably encouraged by some of his teammates to do it.
That’s just a measure of this man.
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