Busy Week Gets The Perfect Ending

There was a two-fold reason for Munster whistle stop trip to Chicago.

Obviously the fixture with the US Eagles was hugely important in the context of preparing for the upcoming season but there was also the objective of promoting themselves to the US branch of the Munster Supporters Club.

To that end the players were engaged in a number of promotional activities beginning with the Irish Consulate reception on Thursday evening. At that event hosted by Sean Farrell, Munster Branch President Gerry O’Loughlin was presented with a model of an American Eagle.

On Friday afternoon Denis Fogarty, Barry Murphy and Kieran Lewis travelled to Johnny O’Hagen’s pub beside Wrigley Field for a Guinness promoted autograph session. Later that afternoon, Declan Kidney, Shaun Payne Jim Williams, Anthony Foley and Anthony Horgan were present at the Gage restaurant for a joint US Eagles/Munster press conference and later on Tony Buckley, Federico Pucciariello and Mossy Lawlor were on hand at the Gage for another promotional appearance this time sponsored by Heineken.

Later that evening the squad were guests at the Chicago White Sox versus Boston Red Sox baseball game at US Cellular field with victory for the Red Sox perhaps proving a lucky omen for the Munster side.

Saturday afternoon saw coach Declan Kidney off to a coaching seminar at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeview and in the afternoon, Michael Essex, Barry Murphy, Denis Fogarty, Ian Dowling and Jeremy Manning spent some time in Fado’s Pub meeting members of the US Munster Supporters Club.