MUNSTER and Irish rugby suffered a massive loss this week as Moss Keane lost his battle against Cancer.
Keane, a native of Currow in Co. Kerry, played 51 times for Ireland and was also a member of the famous 1978 Munster team who defeated the All Blacks at Thomond Park.
Speaking this week, Mick Galway, Munster manager and native also of Currow in Co. Kerry commented; “Were it not for Moss and his likes, there would be no Munster rugby. He is the reason I took up the game and he is the reason that the shirt means so much to so many. I was lucky enough to have worn the number four of Munster. I know Moss wore it before me at some stage. When you know people like Moss have worn the jersey you want to do it justice when you get it.” A visibly upset Galway went on to recall the legacies that Moss Keane has left behind. “Moss has left many legacies. He was a great man, great craic off the pitch. But when he played, he played for the jersey. He gave it honesty.”
Galway also recalled a great moment in 1993 when he and Moss Keane were ‘paraded’ around Currow on the back of a truck. “I had been picked to play with the Lions and of course Moss played 12 times in 1977 for the Lions too. The locals wanted to honour us and that is how they did it. No frills, just honest. That was Moss all out. For a townland like Currow to have internationals like Moss Keane, Tom Doyle and Mick Doyle, it was no wonder people looked up to him. I wanted to play rugby to be like Moss Keane.”
Moss Keane battled oesophageal cancer for the last 18 months. He is survived by his wife Anne, his two daughters, Sarah and Anne Marie.
Men are not made like Moss anymore and the game also lacks gentlemen and characters like Moss. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
