Sir, – Your report (February 22nd) on the forthcoming auction of a photograph of Kevin Barry will have diverted many a downcast rugby fan. The photograph "depicts" Barry (in Belvedere jersey) sprinting for the Blackrock try-line during the Leinster Schools' Junior Cup final in 1917. (The try was converted and Belvedere won 5-3). Though in the Junior squad that season, Barry did not play in the final. From the bench, as first substitute, he presumably had a good view of the real try-scorer, H Kelly, whose brio completed a fine move initiated by Ross Barnett and N Redmond. Barry switched to hurling in 1918 before taking up rugby again in his last year at Belvedere. This time he was picked for the Senior Cup but a semi-final defeat by Blackrock in 1919 meant that he never did get to have that rugby moment at Lansdowne Road. – Yours, etc,
JANE LEONARD,
St Jude’s Avenue,
Belfast.