Looking Back

Munster’s association with the Heineken Cup began back in November 1995 when the Pat Murray captained side entered the competition with a home game against Swansea led by Stuart Davis.

Munster’s association with the Heineken Cup began back in November 1995 when the Pat Murray captained side entered the competition with a home game against Swansea led by Stuart Davis.

It was a game played on a Wednesday in Thomond Park that was refereed by Ed Morrision and a game that Munster won 17-13. A little over 6,000 turned up that afternoon and it was fitting that Murray was the man who scored the winning try, three minutes before Morrisson sounded the final whistle.

Swansea were first to score when out-half Aled Williams landed a penalty after the visitors had domianted the early exchanges. But it was a short-lived advantage because after Kenny Smith was short with a penalty attempt, he gathered the clearance and passed to John Fitzgerald. Charging forward, Paco knocked over referee Morrisson and Mick Galwey, David O’Mahoney and Paul Burke handled before Richard Wallace raced over for a try that Smith converted.

Williams and Smith traded penalties either side of the half-time break before Swansea took a 13-10 lead when Williams converted wing Alan Harris’s try as the game entered the final quarter.

Swansea clung doggedly to that lead until close to the finish when Murray evaded several attempted tackles to score beside the posts and Smith knocked over the conversion. Happy Days.

Munster:

Pat Murray capt, Richard Wallace, Dan Larkin, Sean McCahill, Ken Smith; Paul Burke, David O’Mahoney; John Fitzgerald (Michael Fitzgerald temp), Terry Kingston, Peter Clohessy; Mick Galwey, Gabriel Fulcher; Eddie Halvey (L Toland 32 min), Anthony Foley, David Corkery.