When talking about great players of the past it is easy to eulogise and fall into the murky waters of hyperbole, but when it comes to three former Leinster greats, you'll have to forgive me for doing just that.
Last week, Shane Horgan officially ended is playing career and in doing so Irish rugby said goodbye to another of that golden generation from the naughties. Horgan played in 207 games for Leinster, the first man to hit the double century, he scored 71 tries, won two Heineken Cups, two Celtic leagues and became a firm fan favourite in the RDS.
For Ireland, Shaggy reached mythical status when he scored that wonder try in Twickenham to win the Triple Crown back in 2006. He won 65 caps, played in two World Cups, a Lions tour and at times, had one of the best beards in rugby.
A Co. Meath native, Shaggy has always been a sporting prospect. In his younger days he was considered for the Meath gaelic football team before opting to go into the professional realm of rugby in the late 90's. By the end of 2000, Horgan had earned his first international cap in a game against Scotland in a 44-22 win; he also was amongst the five try scorers that day. It was to be the first of four tries in his debut Six Nations, and he it gave a glimpse of what was to be expected by the 6'4 winger.
Shaggy scored 21 tries in total for his country, bringing his career total tries for club and country to 92. His towering presence on the right wing combined with his pace and power made Horgan one of the most potent attacking forces in northern hemisphere rugby. His 27 Heineken Cup tries put him fourth in a list of all time highest try scorers “ behind Dafydd James (29) Brian O'Driscoll (30) and Vincent Clerc (32). Horgan's try scoring ability was one of the predominant features of his game. That towering frame of his became harder and harder to stop once he was running at the line.
Two tries epitomise Shane Horgan “ they are the two tries that will forever be the key element of his highlight reel, and they both came against the old enemy.
It's the 18th of March 2006, Twickenham is packed out and it's a Triple Crown decider for Ireland, who were bidding to capture it for just the second time in 22 years. Jamie Noon put the home side up after just two minutes following some sloppy Irish play and a knock on from Gordon D'Arcy which led to a tap and go penalty. Luckily for Ireland, Horgan was there in the 8th minute to chase a rubber kick from Brian O'Driscoll - Ben Cohen slipped while trying to gather it in and Horgan managed to keep the ball in play and touchdown to level the match. The highlight reel try was to come in the 79th minute.
England where 24-21 in the lead when Horgan burst down the wing and was stopped just 5 meters from the line, Ireland recycled and came inside before Peter Stringer looped the ball wide to Horgan and with his feet still in the air while being tackled he used every inch of that 6 foot 4 frame at a stretch to ground the ball. It's a try that had everything. RTE commentator Ryle Nugent aptly saying while awaiting the TMO's confirmation; 'Shane Horgan, if you've done this, you will be remembered for many, many years.'
Obviously not believing this Horgan would out do that try a year later on what is one of Irelands most historic days in rugby. Ireland V England in Croke Park was historic for so many reasons, now 5 years later it is the result that seems most historic. The game never seemed in doubt, England seemed to underestimate the emotion and sentiment that was attached to an English side visiting Croker, the home of Gaelic Games and the scene of Bloody Sunday in 1920.
In the 65th minute Ronan O'Gara about 10 metres from touch on the left hand side of the pitch, hit a cross field kick that was hanging in the air, Horgan leapt into air and snatched the ball about 10 feet from the ground and landed across the line to score Ireland's third try that day. A fitting way to score in the home of gaelic games, as noted by BBC commentary as well as RTE.
Two other legends were on the field against England that day, Girvan Dempsey and Denis Hickie.
Hickie is arguably one of the most 'Leinster' players ever, a complete fan favourite and a player with ability to burn. Disco Den, as he was known, was born into a rugby family. His father and uncle had both played for Leinster and Ireland before him and his cousin, Gavin Hickie also dawned the blue of the 12 county army.
Denis learned his trade at St. Mary's College in Rathmines, Dublin. He led Mary's to the coveted Leinster Schools Senior Cup in 1994, defeating Clongowes College 7-3 in a replay following a 14-14 draw. Hickie then went on to UCD to study commerce on a dual scholarship for rugby and athletics, within 3 years he had worked his way into the Leinster starting team and won his first cap for Ireland against Wales in 97.
Hickie's speed and quick feet where a key element of his game, at 6 foot 2 his agility on the wing and ability to score would set an example to a generation of youngsters below him, in 129 appearances for Leinster he scored an incredible 303 points. His 51 caps for Ireland led to his holding of the record of 29 tries for Ireland, until Brian O'Driscoll beat that in 2008.
He retired after the 2007 World Cup which was a disappointing campaign for Ireland, he had had is fair share of injuries throughout his 11 year professional career but he had left his stamp on Irish rugby and played a massive role in helping Leinster become a leader in European Rugby. It was fitting that following the 2009 Heineken Cup win, Brian O'Driscoll paid homage to Hickie in a post match interview.
Girvan Dempsey was not to everyone's liking, some felt he was almost the love child of Eddie O'Sullivan given how much faith was shown in him at full back, but to be quite plain about, Girv was, is and always will be a legend of Irish rugby. His tactical awareness and ability to read the opposition was without peer and he was arguably Ireland's greatest full back since Hugo McNeill.
Dempsey made 197 appearances for Leinster and 82 for Ireland. His ability under the highball was a great platform that allowed his style to flourish in both attack and defence. The Terenure College hero was a key part of Ireland's rise in the naughties. This rise was cemented in 2004 when Ireland won their first Triple Crown in 20 years. Dempsey's try in Twickenham is one of the best ever Irish team tries to be scored. The ball must have went through nearly every pair of hands on the Irish team before finding its way to Girvan who managed to squeeze home in the corner. It was the first of three Triple Crown winning teams Dempsey would play a part in. He also played in two Rugby World Cups and bagged a couple of tries on the biggest stage of world rugby.
Despite missing out on the Grand Slam in 09 and never earning a call up to the Lions, Dempsey has an incredible track record, three Triple Crowns, two Celtic League titles and Heineken Cup cannot be scoffed at. His retirement in 2010 came at the age of 34 and of no real shock, but he remains on at Leinster as Elite Player Development Officer, a roll he has had since the summer of 2010.
Regardless of allegiance when it comes to supporting the four provinces of Ireland, past players have always been afforded the respect and admiration that transcends banter from the stands, while every team has their hometown heroes and favourites; very rarely do we see a truly great player step out and be counted with the consistency of a Horgan, Hickie or Dempsey. While the new generations of rugby fans have their own heroes to admire, I'll still be grabbing a rugby ball down the park and playing the role of player and commentator while scoring that 'winning try' as one of these three legends.
