Horgan on a mission
Munsterās Anthony Horgan gets to grips with Shane Williams during last seasonās Magners League
THEREāS only a few of them left now ā the players who were there when Munster effectively entered the professional era following Declan Kidneyās appointment as coach in 1997.
Alan Quinlan is one, in the form of his life last season, John Hayes soldiers on as indestructible as ever in the front row and there are others such as Frankie Sheahan, Marcus Horan, Mick OāDriscoll and the half-backs Ronan OāGara and Peter Stringer, baby-faced whippersnappers when Kidney plucked them from the All-Ireland League in the late 1990s.
Many more have retired, Gaillimh and Claw are gone since the early part of the decade and two more Munster icons, Anthony Foley and John Kelly, stepped back last season after years of distinguished service.
But Anthony Horgan is still around, a regular on the left wing since Kidney first called him up 11 years ago but a man who has struggled to hold down his place in recent seasons.
However, rather than be resigned to departure when his short-term contract expires in December, Horgan is using the situation as a motivation to prove a point, to those who have written him off and to himself.
āI have a contract until December so itās up to me. I have to prove my form deserves recognition and itās a huge motivational factor,ā says the 31-year-old.
āItās a personal thing now, my destiny is in my own hands and it has given me a determination to prove myself. Iāve lost about 7kgs [over a stone] and I feel really fit.ā
The engaging winger says his uncertain future has forced a change of off-field attitude, something he admits was not always what it should have been.
āI have been in the doldrums for a couple of seasons,ā he acknowledged.
"When I wasnāt getting picked, I reacted badly, throwing my toys out of pram when I should have been focused on forcing my way back into the team.
āNow that I am facing the door I have a totally different outlook. I feel as good and as motivated as I ever have and Iām pretty happy with my form. My intention is to play for Munster for the next seven months and then weāll see.ā
Jostling
Horgan has performed very well in pre-season but there is plenty of jostling for the wing berths in Munster and he has lost out for tomorrow nightās Magners League clash with Edinburgh.
"Thereās huge competition for places just as there was last season, when I had a mixed time of it. I had some decent form in the Magners League and then had a nightmare at the Ricoh against Wasps. With Dougie [Howlett] arriving and Ian Dowling playing so well, there was no way back in and it was tough watching the lads win the Heineken Cup in May, part of it and yet not part of it.
āThis season itās even harder because you have Baz [Barry Murphy] back and playing well and Keith Earls too,ā he added.
āKeith is something special, a pure ball player with speed and an awesome turn of foot. Iām not just saying it because itās where I play but I think heās too good to play on the wing. He has a great attitude as well which is easy to see why with his father [legendary former Young Munster flanker Ger] behind him. Heās a great kid.ā
Munster coach, Tony McGahan, is another Earls admirer and Horgan, while grateful to the Australianās predecessor Kidney, is enjoying the new regime.
"Tony has a different approach to Kidney, he has big shoes to fill but heās his own man. Some of us would have had Deccie for eight or nine years so there is an inevitable element of freshness.
āLaurie Fisher is fitting in well too with the forwards although they give him a ferocious slagging, as is the norm around here, but the guy knows his stuff and his experience of the ELVs is a big help.ā
Munster kick-off their Magners League campaign tomorrow evening in Edinburgh and Horgan says they are anxious to improve their performance in competition and not just reserve their best for Europe.
āI think all the lads would admit that we havenāt performed in the Magners League. While we always find our focus for the Cup, I think fellahs found it hard to pick themselves up for the League games. The international players would be away and you find yourself travelling to low key matches in Newport or Swansea or wherever. We have the Irish guys from the start this season and weāre determined to do ourselves justice.ā
And, as much as there is a collective will, Horgan is on a personal mission over the few months.
āIāve been around a long time, from a different era when myself and Rags [John Kelly] started on part-time contracts worth around seven grand, but Iām not done yet and Iām feeling good right now. Itās the most motivated I have been in a long time. I know I could be gone by December and I have to impress people to avoid that. Now itās up to me.ā