Galwey keeps Shannon flowing in right direction

All-Ireland League semi-finals: The Shannon coach tells Gavin Cummiskey about the influence his club has had on the Irish scene

Without Shannon, and Limerick's rugby ethos in general, the game in Ireland would lack soul. By installing the uncrowned king of Munster at the helm this season, Shannon ensured the wheel keeps turning. Mick Galwey is the perfect link to a proud past and a reminder of days when the club were on the margins.

The latest book remembering the famous 1978 culling of the All Blacks at Thomond Park, written by Alan English (Stand Up And Fight - When Munster Beat The All Blacks), helps show the old prejudices that fed the Shannon psyche. Gerry "Ginger" McLoughlin was propping that day but his first experience of such a battle came back in 1963.

"'Who's the fella covered in blood, Dad?'

'That's Mick O'Callaghan. He's related to you.'

'But I never saw him before.'

'He's a cousin of your mother's.'

'Does he play for Ireland?'

'No. One miserable cap, he got. You see, he plays for Munster and if you come from Munster you have to be twice as good as the fella that plays for Leinster or Ulster.'

'What about if you come from Limerick?'

'If you come from Limerick, you have to be three times as good as the fella from Dublin. At least.'

'What about if you play for Shannon?'

'If you play for Shannon, it doesn't matter how good you are.'"

Ten years of professionalism have ironed out this crease.

"There was a time when we felt we were not getting recognition because of our circumstances but I think that's gone now," states Galwey. "You just have to look at the backbone of the Munster and Irish teams at the moment."

Times have changed. Shannon are experiencing a second golden era since the All-Ireland League began in 1990. The first period, in the mid-1990s, presented to the international stage polished versions of Anthony Foley, John Hayes, Alan Quinlan and Galwey himself. The second coming is replicating this calibre of player. We may even be seeing a replacement for Hayes when he eventually retires. It's too soon to tell but Tony Buckley has more raw materials than "The Bull" started out with.

With three titles in four seasons in their sights, comparisons with the four-in-a-row team are inevitable. "I think the Shannon team of the 90s was the launching pad of Munster and indeed a lot of those players were very prominent for Ireland.

"The team at the moment are good. Some of them are contracted with Munster but if you look at our squad at the moment, maybe apart from Stephen Keogh, we wouldn't have any regulars on the Munster team. If players want to be put in the shop window, they come to Shannon as they do to Garryowen. If you are good enough to play for Shannon the next step is a professional contract.

"That is the most important thing and sometimes we lose sight of it. I was lucky enough to play professional rugby for seven years and I see it as a success when Munster come calling for our players. At the end of the season we'll probably lose a few more players to Munster or Connacht."

Similarities exist between Shannon and today's opponents, Clontarf, who have pulled in provincial prospects from around north Dublin. The main difference of course is Clontarf have no silverware.

Down the road, Garryowen have their house in order again and want to go one better than final defeats in 1998 and 1999. Their opponents, Belfast Harlequins, have beaten the other three semi-finalists in the regular season, including an injury-time steal at Dooradoyle last December.

But the statistics show there have been six play-off games in Limerick - four at Thomond Park and two at Dooradoyle - all of them going the way of the hosts.

Limerick folk love the jersey. Just ask the one-time Kerry footballer who has been in their midst for two decades: "You have to have pride in the club and pride in what you are representing," says Galwey.

"That's first and foremost; those who play for Shannon must want to play for Shannon. The enjoyment comes from being successful and that has brought me through in the last 20 years.

"Shannon demand success and when they don't get it everyone is let down. I'm not saying we have a right to it but we know it takes a lot of hard work and when you do that it's great to reap the dividends."