“THIS WIN was for you” – that was the message from Munster boss Declan Kidney to the loyal army of supporters who waited patiently at Shannon Airport until the early hours of yesterday morning to welcome their heroes home.
Up to 30,000 fans had thronged O’Connell Street from early afternoon on Saturday to watch the Munster win in Cardiff on a giant screen. And despite the long day, up to 1,000 supporters travelled to Shannon airport and waited to welcome the team home.
Young and old packed the airport’s arrival lounge to greet the European rugby champions, who were due to land about midnight.
When their Aer Arann flight finally touched down at 1.45am the crowd was ecstatic.
In an emotional tribute to their followers, Declan Kidney recalled times they were welcomed home even when they didn’t have the silverware. “Eight years ago a lot of people came out here when we came home with nothing and that kept us going. About two years later we came home and again we didn’t have anything for you but you were still here.
“For this special group who have put in this time to be here this evening, I’d just like to say tonight’s win was for you,” he said.
Among the thousands who watched the game on the big screen in O’Connell St on Saturday were the parents of Munster full-back Shaun Payne. The South African’s parents, who are holidaying in Ireland, chose to watch the game in Limerick rather than travel to Cardiff. “We were in the Millennium Stadium in 2006 but we really wanted to be in Limerick this time,” said Shaun’s father Lawrence.