O'Connell: Heineken Cup win today more satisfying than 2006
Paul O'Connell was brilliant for Munster today
Also In The News
|
Directed by Steven Spielberg, out now, starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf, running time 124 mins. |  |
Saturday, 24, May 2008 08:25
Munster captain Paul O'Connell felt that today's Heineken Cup triumph is a bigger achievement then when they lifted the trophy in 2006.
The Irish side edged out Toulouse 16-13 at the Millennium Stadium today and O'Connell said their route to claiming the title this time around was much tougher than when they won it for the first time two years ago.
Munster started off with a 24-23 loss against Wasps in the group stages and then they won away at Gloucester in the quarter-finals and beat Saracens in the semi-finals having headed into both the knockout games as the underdogs.
"I think it is more satisfying than last time. It was a tough campaign and it is just incredible. We have shown bottle and courage and great mental strength today," said O'Connell.
"We have an incredible bunch of people and you feel a pressure when you wear the jersey which is so special to all of us."
Munster and Toulouse were locked at 13-13 with less than a quarter of the game remaining in the final on Saturday.
Man-of-the-match Alan Quinlan admitted that Toulouse had Munster "on the rack for the first 15 minutes and we had to hold on to avoid conceding more scores".
But Quinlan and the Munster defence held firm and it was left to Ronan O'Gara to kick a late penalty which secured Munster the European Cup.