Latest news with #Leamy
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'We're reared on cup rugby': Jeopardy suits Munster says Denis Leamy
Denis Leamy is confident his players can continue being cup rugby mentality monsters when Munster bid to reach the URC play-offs in their final game of the regular season at home to Benetton in Cork this Friday night. The 2023 champions came up with a big performance when it mattered last Friday at Thomond Park when they delivered a bonus-point victory over derby rivals Ulster to keep their season alive but the job is only half done. To reach the knockout rounds and qualify for next season's Champions Cup, Munster must win again to be certain or face an anxious wait across the rest of the weekend in the hope they are not the only team to have fluffed their lines. The 38-20 win over Ulster gives confidence that Munster can hang on their top-eight status and the motivating drivers of providing a winning end on home soil for departing players remains in place this week as Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer prepare for a last hurrah at Virgin Media Park. Momentum has been regained after ending a three-game losing run in emphatic fashion with six tries scored last weekend and defence coach Leamy is encouraged that Munster's DNA is alive and kicking in his players. 'We've spoken big picture stuff in terms of possibly playing for the next couple of weeks, but also understanding that there's no tomorrow if Friday night doesn't go well,' Leamy said on Monday after the squad's return to the training field. "It's a cup game, it carries that kind of jeopardy. Luckily, we're reared on cup rugby in this province. From schoolboys up, it's part of our tradition, what we're used to. "So, we embrace that. It's just about executing the plan on the day." Benetton will start the weekend one place above their hosts in seventh place but on equal points with both Munster and ninth-placed Cardiff. All of those, and Edinburgh only two points behind them, are fighting for a place in the quarter-finals beyond Round 18 but Leamy has seen the positive effects of his province switching to that knockout rugby mentality. "It's certainly a challenge. It's definitely the fact that we're still alive, that our own destiny is in our own hands... that's a really important thing. "We had a very good week, as well, it's important to say that. "We just pointed out a few things that we really wanted to go after in all aspects of the game. "It was good to see that with a big dollop of work-rate and want, we had a good performance on Friday and it was good enough to beat a good Ulster team. "It was a good performance, it wasn't perfect but we've spoken about how we can improve and what we're facing this weekend against Benetton, their multiple threats and a very exciting backline, a very strong set-piece in terms of scrum and lineout, maul. "So, it's how we deal with that in terms of carrying that forward and impose our game on it. "I back our lads all the time, we've a lot experience. We've got players who have been Lions, players who have played multiple times for Ireland, players who, two years ago, won a URC. "We back ourselves, we back the quality within the group. It's a great challenge, it's one we fully embrace." That Monday's squad update issued by Munster was as straightforward as it has been all season offers more grounds for optimism to supporters, who rushed to buy tickets for Cork after the final whistle in Limerick last Friday and turned the Virgin Media Park game into an 8,800 sell-out. Hooker Diarmuid Barron and tighthead prop Oli Jager missed the Ulster game and their respective shoulder and head injuries will also keep them out this Friday, though those players that did return last weekend - Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, and Josh Wycherley in addition to Archer, Murray and O'Mahony – all came through that game without issue, as did utility back Liam Coombes in last week's Munster A game against Connacht Eagles. Munster have also been boosted by a return to training for power forward Edwin Edogbo following 17 months out with an Achilles tendon injury. 'It's been such a tough time for Edwin,' Leamy said of the 22-year-old lock. 'The last game he played was against Leinster two Christmases ago. And he's been through the ringer… he's had a very difficult time. 'It wasn't his first time having that injury so to have to go through it again, it's so difficult for players to be out that long and to go through the day-to-day, just the rigmarole of coming in when you don't have that carrot at the end of the week where you're playing. 'It's so hard on lads like that, but I think Edwin has applied himself really well. He was on the pitch today with us and did a lot of the session, and he looked good.' Munster's official line was the Cobh Pirates clubman's availability for selection to face Benetton would be determined as the week progressed but Leamy offered a different assessment. 'The hope is to get him minutes over the next couple of weeks, that'll be in an A game first and foremost, not against Benetton. 'There's an A game and the plan is to get him some minutes in that. That's very pleasing. He's still got a little bit to go with the nature of those injuries it's not simple, but everyone's wishing Edwin the best of luck and he's something different in fairness, he's a really, really good player, so hopefully we can get him back to where he was.'
Irish Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cork fans are Ireland's best as Leamy predicts rocking atmosphere for URC finale
Denis Leamy predicts Musgrave Park will be rocking on Friday night as Munster chase the victory that sets in stone their place in the URC play-offs - and in next season's Champions Cup. Currently occupying the eighth and final spot for the play-offs, the Reds know that a victory against Benetton in their final regular season fixture will secure a place in the quarter-finals and a place at European club rugby's top table again. However a draw or a defeat will leave the province sweating, with the resurgent Scarlets gunning to overtake by beating the Sharks in Durban the following day. After the emotional scenes in Limerick generated by Peter O'Mahony's try in the vital win over Ulster and the Thomond Park farewell for Reds greats Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and O'Mahony, Leamy expects the Cork crowd to serve up something special this week. 'I think it's very important," said the former Reds star turned defence coach for the team. "I think the bond between the supporters and the players and Munster is really important, and that I hope will never change. The atmosphere on Friday night was really good and the supporters really got behind the team in crucial moments. 'The send off for Peter and Archie and Conor and these guys, that's really important and a great chance for the supporters to show what they think of the boys and what they think of the team. It's just a great chance to bring people together and we value our support so much. "There will be that little bit of emotion around the fact that the boys are retiring to Cork for their final game. That will be there but we've a big job of work to do. We're playing a very good team and it's fair to say it's a Cup final, or a Cup game. "We've spoken about how we want to implement our game plan, their threats, they have many, a very good backline, good set-piece, maul, scrum. So look, it's going to be a real challenge, a tough affair and there's an awful lot on the line but it's a great challenge and one we're genuinely looking forward to. "Cork will be exceptional. The Cork sports people - as a county, the best in Ireland. Musgrave will be rocking. It will feel like 16,000, it will feel unbelievable and I know that the Cork supporters will give us everything on Friday night.' Leamy expects the same from the players, who he insists are well versed in terms of big occasions of this nature. It's not quite do or die but it's do or nearly die for the province. "Now, the pressure of the fixture, we're very lucky that the majority of our players grew up playing Cup rugby," he said. "It's a Cup match and that's something that we're well versed in and we've a long history in. So, we embrace that and we embrace the challenge and look forward to it." Echoing the post-match words of interim head coach Ian Costello that it is only half-time in Munster's mission, Leamy is pleased that the players have got the week off to a good start with the review process and first training day. "It's about delivering and putting our best foot forward," he stated. "We fully believe in our players and we've got players who have played at the very highest level and have won a URC only a couple of seasons before. So these boys have been in tough places and we back them all the way. "It's very clear cut, you win the game and that probably takes care of the vast majority of what we need to do, so that will be the thing. Just try and go out and, as difficult as it will be, put in place a performance that can win the game.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Denis Leamy says Munster will embrace Benetton 'cup final'
Munster are well aware that their task to qualify for the BKT URC play-offs and the Champions Cup is only half done, according to defence coach Denis Leamy. Victory over Ulster on Friday night, and the weekend's subsequent results, leave Munster in eighth place in the table, in between Benetton and Cardiff with all three teams on 46 points. The Italians, who beat champions Glasgow 33-7 in round 17, are the visitors to Musgrave Park on Friday night (8pm) and they will secure their passage with a win or a draw. A win for Munster will seal their place in the knock-outs, while Cardiff and Edinburgh, on 44 points, are waiting to see who slips up. The Welsh region are away to Stormers, while the Scots host Ulster, who are out of the running. All three games are on Friday night. "It's only half-time in these two games and we spoke about that," former Ireland back row Leamy told RTÉ Sport. "The feeling is we had a very good training week last week and we put in place certain things that we wanted to go after against Ulster and I think the boys put their best foot forward. "It wasn't perfect by any means but we'd a good performance and in fairness, Ulster challenged us and they came at us from the start. "They scored a couple of tries but the boys were really good, calm. "We stuck to the plan and got the job done so very pleasing from that point of view." Interim head coach Ian Costello said that much of the motivation to beat Ulster came with the fact that stalwarts Peter O'Mahony, Stephen Archer and Conor Murray were playing their final games at Thomond Park and Leamy acknowledged that they won't be able to fully park that aspect with Cork natives O'Mahony and Archer, in particular, getting their home-town send-off. "There will be that little bit of emotion around the fact that the boys are retiring to Cork for their final game," he said. "That will be there but we've a big job of work to do. We're playing a very good team and it's fair to say it's a cup final, or a cup game. "We've spoken about how we want to implement our game plan, their threats, they have many, a very good backline, good set-piece, maul, scrum. "So look, it's going to be a real challenge, a tough affair and there's an awful lot on the line but it's a great challenge and one we're genuinely looking forward to." While Munster's fate is in their own hands, there remains the possibility that their season could be over at ten o'clock on Friday night and the prospect of missing out on Champions Cup rugby for the first time looms large. Asked about the pressure on the club, Leamy said: "We're very lucky that the majority of our players grew up playing cup rugby, so it's a cup match, and that's something that we're well versed in and we've a long history in. "So, we embrace that and we embrace the challenge and look forward to it. "I know it probably won't come as a surprise [but] it's as boring as having a check list in terms of the content that we need to get covered, on a Monday and a Wednesday and a Friday, and getting through that check list and creating a training environment that is challenging and exciting, constantly trying to create learning within that as well. "We had a very good start today. I think we did a very good review/preview of what we did against Ulster and what we're going to face against Benetton. "We had a very good session, so that's today boxed away. "We've put in place a good foundation, now we build on it on Wednesday and then on into Thursday for our captain's run, and you're hoping that it all comes together in a big performance on Friday night." Munster will be without hooker Diarmuid Barron (shoulder) and prop Oli Jager (head) but confirmed that Archer, Murray, O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Tom Ahern and Josh Wycherley all came through the weekend's game with no issues following their returns from injury. Liam Coombes also made a successful return to action in last week's Munster 'A' clash against Connacht Eagles, while there was good news for Edwin Edogbo as he returns to training this week and his availability for selection will be determined as the week progresses.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Five local WWII Veterans take off to visit the National WWII Museum
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Since 2015, the Gary Sinise Foundation has been bringing World War II veterans to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans through its Soaring Valor initiative to visit the museum and spread awareness and education on the importance of service and sacrifice. Five local World War II veterans are getting the chance to visit the museum this week. 'The Gary Sinise Foundation is a wonderful organization, not only for veterans, but for first responders in their families as well they go over and above their support of these folks for veterans in particular it's great that you know they're reaching out and getting World War II veterans down to the museum that was built for them,' said guardian Martin Leamy. Central and Southwest Virginia Honor Flight CEO Martin Leamy is known for taking veterans to Washington, D.C. twice a year for the Honor Flight. This week he is part of a different mission. Leamy and 5 other guardians are taking 5 local World War II veterans to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. The veterans are excited about this opportunity courtesy of the Gary Sinise Foundation. Before the veterans took off they got a heroes send off from the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. Even during take off the airport firetrucks gave a water splash off. The five local World War II veterans will link up with the rest of the Gary Sinise Foundation Soaring Valor group in Nashville before taking off Wednesday for New Orleans and the museum. The veterans will spend two days checking out the museum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Southwest & Central Virginia Honor Flight prepares for 10th annual trip to Washington D.C.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Southwest and Central Virginia will celebrate the 10th annual Honor Flight that is set to take off to bring veterans from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam the chance to visit memorials created in their honor. It is said to be a journey of a lifetime to give veterans who were not properly thanked for their service a chance to receive thanks. The Honor Flight will take place in Washington, D.C., from April 4 to 6, and the visiting veterans will be free of charge. Martin Leamy joined WFXR News to share more information about this opportunity for veterans. Martin Leamy said, 'The Honor Flight is a Nationwide organization comprised of regional hubs or chapters that is a nonprofit organization. We do our own trip planning, fundraising, marketing, and most of the hubs do the geography fly into the D.C. area to visit the memorial. There is about eight of us that are close enough to ride a bus up there, and that's kind of our situation. We are actually honor bus if you want to put it that way.' Leamy talked about how eye-opening it is to see veterans coming to visit as their mission is to take veterans up there to see the memorials created in their honor. He explained that the visitation of the men and women is a 'means to an end' to bring the veterans closure and healing and the gratitude that many did not receive when they returned from overseas. Honor Flight taking local veterans to Washington D.C. in recognition of service Leamy got involved with the Honor Flight when he first started as the Director of Facilities and Risk management for the National D-Day Memorial in Tennessee. The Tennessee Hub would stop there, and he worked with them on their visiting logistics. 2014 was the 70th anniversary of the D-Day attack, and he worked with Jeff Miller to bring around 320 WWII and D-Day veterans from Tennessee and South Florida to see the commemoration ceremony. Leamy said, 'I got to know Jeff Pretty Well, and he invited me to start participating in their Honor Flight summit, which is their annual meeting up in Baltimore. I was up there plugging the memorial for about two years, and I had this epiphany, 'Hey you need to look at the map to see where the hubs are in Virginia.' I looked, and there was one in Tide Water, and there was one up in Stephen City, which is up near Winchester, and there was a big hole in our part of Virginia.' He then went to Jeff to get into the business to get a role to get Southwest, Virginia on a flight, and 2018 was when they took the inaugural trip. This event is still in need of volunteers and has no paid staff as they have guardians that aid the veterans on the trip. The guardian's primary job is to ensure veteran safety to prevent a fall especially as they get off the bus. Guardians are trained for three hours before the event to be the companion of the veteran during the entire trip. Guardians are asked to donate $400 to help cover their trip costs, and their applications are screened and accepted on a first come, first serve basis. To learn more or to apply as a guardian, you can visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
