It’s hard to believe that it’s been over ten years since one of the most momentous occasions in Irish sport.
February 24, 2007 is a date that will live in the memories of Irish rugby fans and Irish sports fans for a long, long time.
On that day, the Irish rugby team took on England in a Six Nations encounter in Croke Park, the home of the GAA, which had hosted its first ever rugby international earlier that month, when a late try by Ireland’s bête noire, Vincent Clerc, denied Eddie O’Sullivan’s side victory.
Though the France game was a hugely historic occasion itself, it paled in comparison to Ireland’s clash with England given the history between the two countries, which served as a massive talking point before the two teams took to the field.
Thankfully, as we all know, fears that ‘God Save the Queen’ would be drowned out with boos proved unfounded, as did fears that the occasion might overwhelm the Irish players, who played like men possessed and trounced the old enemy by 30 points.
Ten years on, RTÉ documentary, ‘No Words Needed’ revisits the events of that momentous day, with a whole host of political, sporting and cultural leaders telling of their experiences in the run up to the game and of the game itself.
Amongst them are players such as Jerry Flannery, Shane Horgan and England captain on the day, Martin Corry, then Ireland manager Eddie O’Sullivan, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, historian Diarmaid Ferriter, former Armagh manager Joe Kernan and former President of the GAA, Sean Kelly, who presided over one of the most historic moves in the association’s history.
It promises to be a must watch for Irish sports fans and it’s on RTÉ One tonight at 10.15pm.
Clip via RTÉ
