Thomond Park was a theatre of emotion on Saturday.
Munster Rugby said goodbye to Anthony Foley and the place was filled with both beauty and tragedy.
Fields of Athenry was belted out, a rendition of There is an Isle was sang with rawness and sadness and the entire province came together to give a legend the sendoff he deserved.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BL3W6UshX0i/?taken-by=sportsjoedotie
During what was an impeccably well-observed minute’s silence for one of Munster’s greatest, Limerick was awash with grief and pride and it bubbled down to the pitch too.
For Simon Zebo, it became too much.
The full back had tears in his eyes during the silence to mark the memory of his coach and he had to be consoled before the game.
It was tough for everyone.
The captain Peter O’Mahony was there for Zebo.
But it was heartbreaking stuff to watch.
Munster used that grief and they channeled it. They went to another place on Saturday.
The energy with which they hit Glasgow with from the start on the Champions Cup clash was from a different level altogether and, even when Keith Earls saw red in the first half, it was Simon Zebo who was stretching over the line with everything he had to keep the fight coming to the visitors.
That one was for you buddy. Simon Zebo after scoring 3rd try. #Axel 📷@SebaJFDaly pic.twitter.com/JR9yyNlrX7
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) October 22, 2016
Axel would be proud.
Lovely touch from @StuartWHOGG_ as he catches hold of @SimonZebo to pass on some words of condolence before kick-off pic.twitter.com/3J40zBRyFv
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) October 22, 2016
