All of Ireland celebrated last Sunday evening when young Greystones golfer Paul Dunne (below) won his first European Tour title at the British Masters, but for a certain vintage of Connacht Rugby players and supporters the moment was double sweet as they recalled his dad Collie's finest hour. Collie Dunne played outhalf and full back for Connacht and was one of several Dublin based players on the team that included Noel Mannion, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Henry O'Toole, UCG student scrumhalf Conor McCarthy, Robbie Henshaw's uncle Davie Henshaw, and Mick Tarpey. According to archives, the 11-9 win was carved out in front of only 300 spectators on a wet and windy day in November, and it took a dramatic score from centre Liam Mulcahy with just seconds remaining to seal an unlikely victory.The star studded Munster team included names such as Donal Lenihan, Michael Bradley, Ralph Keyes, Michael Kiernan and former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan.
Collie Dunne (left) accepting an Irish Sports Award for his son Paul in 2016
Nov 22nd 1986: Munster 9-11 Connacht
Derek Jones in the Irish Times wrote: "It was cold, very windy and wet, with rain and hailstones, but none of this distracted from an impressive Connacht performance, especially in view of the massive hammerings they had taken from Leinster and Ulster in their previous interprovincial championship games. With Ciarán Fitzgerald back as captain, the Connacht pack tore the hearts out of the Munster forwards, with Noel Mannion, the brilliant John O’Driscoll and Mick Fitzgibbon making life unpleasant for Munster. Even Ireland skipper Donal Lenihan could do nothing about the display of the Connacht pack, nor could he reach the standard that has made him such a world-class forward. Nor could the other two current internationals in the Munster side, Michael Kiernan and Michael Bradley, come up with any solutions. Indeed, the individual duel between Bradley and Galway student Conor McCarthy at the base of the scrums was quite fascinating, and this was not the first time I have been thoroughly impressed by McCarthy.
But with the Connacht pack responding brilliantly to Fitzgerald’s leadership and O’Driscoll showing he holds a rightful place among a healthy stock of Irish backrow talent, Connacht took the game by the scruff of the neck after the break and decided to go one better than the draw they achieved at Thomond Park in 1974, which was their best result there until Saturday. This pressure and perseverance in wretched conditions paid off 20 minutes after the interval when that nippy fullback Henry O’Toole sent Moran away on the right, and from the resultant ruck Fitzgibbon scored on the right of the posts. Moran’s kick for the conversion hit the near upright to deprive Connacht of drawing level 9-9.
When Michael Cosgrave, trying desperately to get the winning score, failed with a drop kick into the wind with one minute of injury time gone, Connacht’s cause looked doomed. But then that superb forward quartet of Mannion. O’Driscoll, Fitzgibbon and Fitzgerald handled as though they were putting in claims for the three-quarter line. Munster had no option but to backpedal as Collie Dunne, Cosgrave and O’Toole carried on until the retreating Munster men finally collapsed altogether. Liam Mulcahy, one of eight western players based with Dublin clubs, put the finishing touch to a move that stretched fully 60 yards by going over for the dramatic winning score with only seconds remaining."
CONNACHT: H O’Toole (Corinthians); B Moran (Waterpark), L Mulcahy (Terenure), M Cosgrave (Wanderers), MP Farrell (UCG); C Dunn (Wanderers), C McCarthy (UCG); T Clancy (Lansdowne), C Fitzgerald (St Mary’s), D Henshaw (Athlone); M Tarpey (St Mary’s), M Moylett (Shannon); N Mannion (Wanderers), J O’Driscoll (London Irish), M Fitzgibbon (Dublin University).
MUNSTER: P Murray (Old Crescent); E O’Sullivan (Garryowen), M Finn (Constitution), M Kiernan (Dolphin), G O’Kelly (Dolphin); R Keyes (Constitution), M Bradley (Constitution); T Healy (Shannon), D Kingston (Dolphin), P McCarthy (Dolphin); D Lenihan (Constitution), R Costello (Old Crescent); G McMahon (Shannon), B Spillane (Bohemians), P O’Hara (Sunday’s Well). Replacements: T Lenihan (Bohemians) for Keyes (22 mins), N O’Donovan (Shannon) for Spillane (27 mins).
