Leinster vs Scarlets

And he rattles off the names of lads that
he used to play with that are still involved.
“I loved playing with Skerries and I’ve
said it before I want to get back to
Skerries when this is all done with Leinster
and hopefully play there again. It was
the best of both worlds. It was serious
enough about the rugby but then great
craic as well.
“A lot of my mates are still playing.
Rory Woods, Conn Marrey who was a
hooker in my time but he’s playing in the
back row now, Tom Mulvany is a serious
player, Lorcan Jones in the centre, it’s just
great that there are so many of them still
there and pulling on the jersey.
“Another fella, Robert McKey, is no
longer with the squad but it’s gas his
younger brother Oisín is now with the
team. It’s mad because I remember going
to see Oisín’s games with Robert when
we were younger and you could see that
he had a bit about him.
“He’s a brilliant up and coming winger.
I remember him growing up he was a bit
like myself, playing a load of different
sports, but he has turned the focus to
rugby now and he’s doing really well.
I remember chatting to my folks
before the game and you could just
tell the excitement in their faces
and their voices. They’d have been
there for the game all things going
well but obviously with Covid that
wasn’t possible.
“And now here he is playing and scoring
in the AIL with Skerries so yeah we’ll see
how he goes but it’s great to see him and
all the lads back out there and playing.”
The Bruff win and mention of Oisín
McKey is timely as the IRFU match report
is all about McKey’s impact in that same
game.
‘Skerries overturned a nine-point deficit
to win a real rollercoaster of a game
at Bruff. The Goats prevailed 18-17
thanks to a late Oisin McKey try and the
decisive penalty from Paul O’Loghlen.
‘Winger McKey was involved in the
build-up to Skerries’ opening score,
gobbling up Eoghan Carron’s chip kick,
stepping inside a defender and sending
captain Kevin McGrath over to the right
of the posts.’
His reference to the McKey brothers and
watching the ‘younger brother Oisín’
a few years ago also brings us back to
his own journey and the fact that, in the
blink of an eye, he has gone from Leinster
Rugby novice to five years a professional.
The Australian-born centre turns 24 in
December so he is far from veteran status
just yet but he has been building his
playing CV and getting more and more
game day exposure from Leo Cullen.
There has also been talk of where best to
play him. Out-half. Centre. And there has
even been whispers of possible call-ups
by Andy Farrell.
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