Clare FM listeners have voted Anthony Foley lifting the Heineken Cup for Munster in 2006 as the county’s Greatest Ever Sporting Moment.
Tributes were paid to ‘Axel’ on today’s edition of Morning Focus, as the weeks-long search came to an end.
It’s fifteen years since Munster first claimed the Heineken Cup, edging oout Biarittz by 23 points to 19 in Cardiff and bringing an end to a quest that had lasted for over a decade
And after the final whistle, the first Munster man to get his hands on that famous trophy was Killaloe’s Anthony Foley.
Axel captained the side that day, wearing his signature number 8 red jersey, and fond memories remain as today saw the announcement that this moment had topped Anthony Daly’s speech after the 1995 All Ireland Final in our listeners’ poll.
Anthony’s father Brendan says it was flattering for the family to be linked to that special day.
Many of the tributes that poured in for the late Anthony Foley when he passed away in October 2016 pointed to his winning mentality.
Childhood friend and golfing pal Enda Keane says that encompassed what Axel was all about, on and off the rugby pitch.
There were only 2 Clare natives in that day’s starting 15 in Cardiff named by Declan Kidney – Foley and Marcus Horan.
Between them they amassed well over 400 appearances for Munster and more than 120 in the green of Ireland.
Horan says Foley being from the Banner added even more significance to the moment.
To mark the moment being named the greatest in Clare’s sporting history, the Foley family will receive a specially created piece of Galway Crystal.
And while that’s another award for a storied rugby career, Anthony’s sister Rosie admits her brother would have had a lukewarm reaction to the accolade.
The full podcast of today’s tribute to Anthony Foley is available now on the Clare FM website.