One of the stalwarts of Munster's golden era died earlier this week.
Although he wasn't involved on the pitch, Pat Geraghty was a key cog behind the scenes in Limerick and Cork. He was the team's media manager between 2000 and 2013.
Geraghty worked in a similar position with Leinster before he moved to their rivals. Although he was a Kildareman, he was fully in the Munster camp.
His funeral took place on Thursday afternoon in Kildare. Six Munster players acted as pallbearers as Geraghty's coffin entered the church in Celbridge, while another six player carried him out
Ronan O'Gara was one of those pallbearers, and wrote a terrific tribute to his friend in today's Irish Examiner. Calling him a "mentor and ally", the former fly-half described some of the moments that made Geraghty such a key member of the squad.
That included an incident where he was locked in a cupboard in Kilkenny, and telling a French journalist in no uncertain terms to leave a Munster training session in Paris.
Alan Quinlan was also a pallbearer at the funeral. According to O'Gara, an incident involving Geraghty and Quinlan showed how dedicated the media manager was to the Munster cause.
Quinny came into UL one day after he’d retired, working for Sky Sports and Pat gave him the road. That’s how Munster he was. The rules have changed, Quinny. You’re on the other side now, you can’t have your cake and eat it.
Now Quinny initially thought he was joking and got a right hump over it. But the message was unambiguous: my loyalty is to Munster. You don’t like it? Tough. These are the house rules.
In O'Gara's tribute, there is nothing but admiration of Geraghty and the steely determination he brought to the role. Munster player's past and present have also paid tribute to the Kildare native this week showing how much he was appreciated.
You can read O'Gara's brilliant tribute in full here on the Irish Examiner website.
