News article – Style E 5843

…Shannon’s young hooker Sean Cronin collects his man of the match award from AIB General Manager Maurice Crowley…

Sean Cronin’s wide grin said it all at Lansdowne Road on Saturday – the 20-year-old Shannon hooker certainly made his mark on the Division One final.

The ginger-topped Business student turned in a monumental display to inspire the Limerick men to a 30-3 win over Clontarf and their third AIB League title in a row – eighth in all since 1995 – proving, despite his age, that he is a force to be reckoned with.

And to do it in front of 8,750 spectators, one of which was current Ireland number 2 Jerry Flannery, just capped it off.

Voted AIB man of the match in his debut final, Cronin said: “I’m lost for words really. Even with how many titles we’ve won in the past, there’s still so much hunger in the squad. We were especially up for this one because Clontarf beat us earlier in the year and the lads really wanted to put one over them.”

Coupled with his brilliant ninth-minute try were some stunning hits – the most memorable of which was a certain try-saver on Derek Keane – and dead-eye lineout throwing. The afternoon could not have gone much better for Cronin, who was admittedly “speechless” afterwards.

An All-Ireland winner with Shannon’s Under-20s last month, Cronin modestly said of his tackle on Keane: “I just put on the gas and tried to get back and catch him. He had a good headstart on me but thank God I got him just before the line.

“That’s from all the work I’ve been doing with Ian Costello back in the Munster Acacdemy. I hope was watching! I’m delighted with how the day went.”

Cronin is a cert to be on the plane to France for next month’s Under-21 World Cup, although he is likely to play second fiddle to Harlequins hooker Stuart Philpott, who is Irish captain.

Shannon coach Mick Galwey describes Cronin as “an inspiration” afterwards.

The former Munster, Ireland and Lions lock said: “At the start of the season we were in trouble with the hooking position. We lost James Blaney, who went back to Terenure as a coach, Nigel Conroy got a contract in England and Jerry Flannery moved up with Munster and Ireland, so were were really short.

“We had to look for someone from within. Sean has come through the Under-20s, and has had a magnificent season at both underage and senior levels. Today he started the move for our first try and finished it off as well. He saved a certain try when stopping their winger, and apart from those incidents he never flinched against big, experienced opponents. That’s the kind of thing you need – he was an inspiration.” And certainly a player to look out for in the years to come.