Munster fought to 'bitter end'
Munster lost in the URC quarter-finals for the first time since 2022 [Getty Images]
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne said "there was nothing more" he could ask of his team-mates after their United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss to Sharks was decided by a place-kick competition.
The visitors to Durban had led 21-10 in the second half but, after the game finished 24-24 and neither side scored during extra time, the Sharks were a perfect six-from-six in their shots at goal, while Rory Scannell was wayward off the tee for Munster.
Advertisement
"They're riddled with internationals, they know what they're doing," said Beirne of the Sharks who will now face the Bulls in the semi-finals.
"We knew they were going to keep coming at us, we knew they would be a tough battle, and we fought to the bitter end.
"There's nothing more I could ask of the lads. To go to a penalty shootout or whatever you call that there is gutting for us, but that's the way it goes and that's the way we lost the game."
The defeat represented final Munster appearances for Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer.
"There's no tomorrow for us this season and we have to say goodbye to some pretty special characters within this room," added Beirne, who will tour with the British and Irish Lions for a second time this summer.
"It's going to be a weird place without them, we've spoken about it before.
"They epitomise Munster, they love the club and they put blood, sweat and tears in for the club."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
7 hours ago
- News24
The Lead: Selling sweets to pay for matric ball and May's best good news stories
From a viral Grade 12 pupil selling sweets every morning at a local taxi rank to attend his matric dance to a young Ikeys rugby star who got a shock call-up from Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, by the end of Tuesday's discussion with Good News editor Paul Herman in The Lead, we hope to leave you feeling extra inspired and proud to be a South African. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer discusses controversial Gauteng tenderpreneur Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala, who abandoned his bid for bail in connection with an alleged failed hit. Finally, we look at how the economy barely budged in this year's first quarter. Listen on YouTube: Listen on Apple Podcasts:
New York Times
8 hours ago
- New York Times
Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford
Caoimhin Kelleher has joined Brentford from Liverpool for an initial fee of £12.5m that could rise to £18million ($24.3m). The 26-year-old goalkeeper has signed a five-year deal with an option of a further year. As part of this summer's transfer coverage on The Athletic, in addition to breaking news, tactical analysis and in-depth reads, our Transfers TLDR series (you can read them all here) will bring you a quick guide to each of the key deals. Cork-born Kelleher was signed by Liverpool from local club Ringmahon Rangers and relocated from the Republic of Ireland to England at 16. He worked his way up through the age groups to become a goalkeeper Jurgen Klopp described as the best No 2 in the world. No goalkeeper in Liverpool history has won more penalty shootouts (four), and he even scored in the 11-10 shootout win against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in 2022. Kelleher played 67 times for Liverpool and won one Premier League title (he failed to make an appearance in the successful 2019-20 Premier League season), one Champions League, one FA Cup, one Super Cup and two League Cups. Caoimhe O'Neill Kelleher was built in the image of Alisson by former Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg. Expect a similar goalkeeper to the Brazil No 1. The Irishman was a striker until he was 13 and may not look as imposing as bulkier goalkeepers, but his bendy frame will pull off saves that look out of reach. Advertisement There may be the occasional blooper, but with penalties, look out for his 'smooth criminal' penalty-saving, where he falls towards the taker. Caoimhe O'Neill Kelleher is a capable shot stopper, with a 71 per cent save rate last season, marginally behind Flekken's 74 per cent. His distribution was solid, too, and he often went short from open play, as Flekken did. The key difference is their long passing. Flekken attempted 21.3 Opta-defined long passes (covering 32+ meters or 35+ yards) and completed 41 per cent. In contrast, Kelleher attempted 12.5 and completed 26 per cent. This could be due to Brentford's tactical approach, which embraces directness in comparison to Liverpool. With more minutes, Kelleher's numbers across the board are likely to improve. Anantaajith Raghuraman Kelleher's most recent injury saw him receive stitches in his knee in October 2023, though this did not lead to a lengthy layoff. He suffered a groin injury in June 2022 that sidelined him for three months and an abdominal tear in February 2021 that ruled him out for a month. Anantaajith Raghuraman 'Caoimh is cool as ice,' Achterberg told The Athletic in March 2024. 'He can play left foot, right foot; his speed reactions are crazy and he reads the game so well.' 'He was unbelievable,' his former Ringmahon team-mate Keelyn Cotter told The Athletic in 2020. 'We had a few goalkeepers in our league who were getting trials in England. The competition was fierce, but within a couple of years, he'd flown past them all. It also helped that he understood what a good striker might do because he was one himself.' Caoimhe O'Neill Kelleher has signed a five-year contract with an option for a further 12 months. He has cost Brentford £12.5million initially, potentially rising to £18m. Through joining in early June, just under a month's worth of the fee will hit Brentford's 2024-25 financials, as will four weeks of Kelleher's wages. Liverpool's most recent financial year ended on May 31, so this deal has no impact on their 2024-25 accounts. Advertisement In terms of those wages, Kelleher's new deal is unknown, though as ever, the cost of the deal will go beyond just the transfer fee and any agent costs. For Liverpool, Kelleher's departure won't make a sizeable dent in their staff costs, with the backup goalkeeper one of the lower earners in a well-paid squad. Chris Weatherspoon After adding on agent fees, assumed at 10 per cent, Kelleher's signing adds £200,000 to Brentford's transfer fee amortisation charge in 2024-25, with a further £2.7m per year then charged until the end of the 2029-30 season. The sale of Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen for £8.4m generated a profit on sale of around £2.8m immediately in the club's books, more than offsetting the £200,000 amortisation added by signing Kelleher. From Liverpool's perspective, there could be a situation where they would not enjoy the full £12.5m fee. Reports in Ireland suggest Ringmahon, the club Kelleher joined Liverpool from as a 16-year-old, may be due 20 per cent of Liverpool's profit on any sale, which would mean Ringmahon would bank around £2.5m of the £12.5m fee. The Athletic has not been able to verify those reports, but if that were the case, it would leave £10m in profit booked into Liverpool's 2025-26 accounts, with the possibility of a further £4.4m in add-ons. Chris Weatherspoon
Washington Post
8 hours ago
- Washington Post
Justin Rose is 15 years removed from his first PGA Tour win and still going strong
DUBLIN, Ohio — Justin Rose has reason to feel his age at the Memorial when he sees his framed photo on the wall of his first PGA Tour victory. That was 15 years ago. 'It's quite amazing when I think about it like that,' he said. 'Fifteen years. The image I have is my little son Leo was kind of messing around in a bunker behind 18.'
