Moss Keane

Maurice Ignatius "Moss" Keane (27 July 1948 – 5 October 2010) was a Gaelic footballer and a rugby union footballer who played for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.

Moss Keane
Birth nameMaurice Ignatius Keane
Date of birth(1948-07-27)27 July 1948
Place of birthCounty Kerry
Date of death5 October 2010(2010-10-05) (aged 62)
SchoolSt. Brendan's College, Killarney
UniversityUniversity College Cork
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Lansdowne Football Club ()
Correct as of 5 April 2007
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Munster ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1974–1984
1977		 Ireland
British and Irish Lions		 51
1		 (4)
(0)
Correct as of 5 April 2007

Life and career

Born at Currow in County Kerry, Keane started out as a Gaelic footballer, playing at college level for University College Cork and in the process winning a number of medals including three Sigerson Cups, one Cork County Championship and a Munster Club Championship, he also played in an All Ireland Club Final. He represented Kerry Gaelic footballer's at U-21 and Junior level as a full back, winning Munster Championships at both levels, playing in an All Ireland at Junior level. In 2011 the Kerry County Board named the cup for the winners of the Intermediate Shield after him.

He then found rugby through a friend in college, playing for the UCC junior rugby team as 'Moss Fenton', during the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)'s ban on foreign games. When asked what he first thought about rugby he answered: "It was like watching a pornographic movie – very frustrating for those watching and only enjoyable for those participating."[1] He made his international debut for Ireland on 19 January 1974 against France in Paris, a game Ireland lost 9–6 in the 1974 Five Nations Championship.[2]

Keane became the third Irish forward after Willie John McBride and Fergus Slattery to reach 50 international appearances. He scored his one and only test try in a 22–15 victory over Scotland in February 1980.[3]

He played his 51st and final international against Scotland on 3 March 1984 in Dublin. Ireland lost the match 32–9.[4]

Keane was also a part of the famous Munster side that defeated the All Blacks in Thomond Park in 1978.

He toured New Zealand with Phil Bennett's British and Irish Lions in 1977,[5] making one Test appearance, and was also a key man in Ireland's 1982 Five Nations Championship win and their historic Triple Crown victory in 1982.[6]

Outside sport

Having gained a master's degree in dairy science, Keane worked for the Department of Agriculture during his rugby playing career and retired in July 2010. He kept active playing golf on a weekly basis. In 1993 he was the victim of a vicious mugging.[5]

In 2005 he wrote, with Billy Keane (no kin), his autobiography, called Rucks, Mauls and Gaelic Football.[7]

Illness and death

In 2009 it was reported that Keane was being treated for bowel cancer.[8] He died aged 62 on 5 October 2010. Many tributes were made including Taoiseach Brian Cowen saying "one of the great gentleman of Irish sport, would be sadly missed by his many fans and admirers worldwide, Moss Keane was one of the finest rugby players Ireland has ever produced, He was among rugby's best known characters and a legend of the game at home and abroad". [9][10][11] The IRFU paid tribute to Keane, describing him as one of Irish rugby's "most genuine characters and legends of the game", "Moss had ability on the field that no one could doubt from his record at club, provincial and international level, " IRFU President Caleb Powell said, "UCC, Lansdowne, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions all benefited from his presence and ensured that his reputation will live long in the memories of not only Irish rugby, but world rugby."[12] Keane is survived by his wife Anne and his two daughters Sarah and Anne Marie. His funeral took place on 7 October in St Michael's Church Portarlington. Former Ireland international players, including Willie John McBride, Ollie Campbell, Tony Ward, Mick Galwey, Dick Spring, Donal Lenihan, Donal Spring and Ciaran Fitzgerald were in attendance. Keane's coffin was adorned with the jerseys of Ireland, Munster, UCC, Kerry and Currow.[13]

Honours

Ireland

References
  1. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/moss-keane-rugby-union-player-hailed-as-one-of-the-finest-ireland-has-produced-2101855.html
  2. "France 9 Ireland 6 1974 Five Nations". Sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  3. "Moss Keane RIP". Irish Rugby Football Union. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  4. "Ireland 9 Scotland 32 1984 Five Nations". Sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  5. O'Reilly, Peter (5 November 2005). "I'd have made a lovely priest — full of compassion and altar wine". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  6. "Death of rugby legend Moss Keane". RTÉ Sport. 5 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  7. ""Rucks, Mauls and Gaelic Football" by Moss Keane with Billy Keane". RTÉ Sport. 2007. Archived from the original on 21 September 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  8. Reilly, Jerome (8 March 2009). "Rugby hero Moss Keane has cancer". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  9. "Former Ireland rugby forward Moss Keane dies". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  10. "Tributes paid to 'best known Kerryman'". Irish Times. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  11. "Taoiseach leads tributes to Ireland rugby great Moss Keane". Guardian. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  12. "Moss Keane passes away". Irish Examiner. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  13. "Keane funeral takes place in Portarlington". RTÉ Sport. 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
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