Day the towering red army tasted epic defeat

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

- Brendan Gallagher

What's happening here?

It’s May 2, 2009 and reigning champions Munster are playing Leinster in the semi-final of the Heineken Cup at Croke Park where a world record crowd for a club game – 82, 208 – have gathered at the mighty GAA citadel. During this period, with Lansdowne Road being converted into the present Aviva Stadiam, Croke hosted four seasons of Six Nations games for Ireland but no rugby occasion was bigger than this allIreland fight for bragging rights.

What's the story behind the picture?

Irish rugby was on an all-time high. Less than two months earlier the boys in green had finally fulfilled their obvious potential and claimed a first Ireland Grand Slam in 61 years with the narrowest of wins over Wales in Cardiff. The celebrations were still in full flow. The recession of autumn 2008 had badly wounded the Celtic Tiger economically but on the rugby pitch it was still full steam ahead.

In May 2009 both Munster and Leinster were on fire and one of them was guaranteed a place in the final. For the best part of a decade, however, it had been Munster who had hogged the limelight in Ireland. Two Heineken Cup trophies, two other losing finals and many other epic high profile campaigns. They, in many ways, had become the face of Irish rugby and their passionate supporters were revered around the continent.