CHALLENGE CUP WORCESTER v CONNACHT:PATIENCE MAY indeed be a virtue but when you're 23 years of age it's hard to be phlegmatic about your heart's desire. Seán Cronin sat on the bench for Ireland's summer tour, hoping for an opportunity that never arrived. Rory Best played against the USA and Canada, his understudy on that trip confined to the bench.
Best was subsequently injured and Cronin suddenly found himself in the match squad for the opening November Test match against Australia at Croke Park.
Jerry Flannery had the starting jersey but the young Connacht hooker hoped there would be game time in the offing and a first senior cap to go with it.
Flannery and Cronin are both Limerick-born, honed their rugby skills at Shannon but headed for Connacht to further their careers when opportunities were limited with Munster.
Cronin is currently flourishing with Connacht where his innate footballing skills that complement his ability to perform the more mundane chores caught the eye of the national management.
He was an integral part of Ireland’s summer Churchill Cup success so his graduation to the senior squad has been measured in its own way, having had plenty of experience at A level. His experiences during the summer served to whet the appetite as the senior team looked to maintain their unbeaten run through 2009.
“Making the 22 for the Australia match was a huge shock on one hand but at the same time it offered a sense of self-fulfilment. It’s a reward for hard work . . . I know I am fortunate because not everyone gets that opportunity. I wasn’t too nervous in the run-up to the game but as the day approached I started to feel the nerves . . .
“I was able to enjoy the anthems at Croke Park, pick out my family in the crowd. I knew they were proud and that they would be enjoying the day almost as much as I was. Obviously you’re desperate to get on the pitch but as in the two matches during the summer the call didn’t come.”
Cronin’s moment came a week later at the RDS when Ireland played Fiji. “It was a great venue for that match because it guaranteed a brilliant atmosphere that would have been lost with the same crowd in a bigger stadium. I suppose by that stage I thought I might never get a chance.
“I was too excited to be nervous when I got the call. The only thing you focus on initially is getting your hands on the ball, doing something positive for the team. I was fortunate that I got to carry ball a few times and that definitely helps you to settle.”
This weekend Cronin and Connacht will hope to take a giant stride towards the play-offs in the Amlin Challenge Cup if they can sneak an away win against the Worcester Warriors tomorrow. Michael Bradley’s side can put their poor Magners form behind them and concentrate on Europe.
“We know that we’ve a good opportunity but are equally aware that Worcester, having lost at home to Montpellier, simply have to win this match. If we could win then we’d put ourselves in a strong position to not alone make the play-offs but get a home quarter-final; it’s a big advantage. It’s a big incentive but we know we’ll have to make a big improvement on our performance against Cardiff,” he concluded.
