Junior Club Job For A Day – The Reactions!

The second group of Junior Club winners had their dreams come true when they went behind the scenes at Irish Independent Park and assisted Munster team, staff and MRSC volunteers at Munster v London Irish in the second of the Kearys Renault Series.

Our Junior members tell us how they got on – in their own words!

Kit Assistant: Richie Lillis, Cork (Age 9).

Richie helped Kit Manager Jack Kiely organise the match day kit in the home dressing room and made sure all necessary equipment was ready and in position on the side-lines for the player's pre-match warm-up.

"I was on my holidays in Kilkee when my mom got a call from Ciara Lyons saying that I was hired as the kit assistant for the London Irish game in Independent Park. I was so excited when she told me … I thought match day would never come."

"When I was in school on Friday all I could think of all day was the evening ahead. I arrived at Irish Independent Park at 5 O'Clock and met Ciara at the gate. She was so friendly and made me so welcome. She gave me my pass for the evening and I felt so important. She then gave me a tour of the park and introduced me to many people who work behind the scenes there. There were all so nice. I went into the changing rooms and met my boss for the evening Jack Kiely and we got to work. I brought out the water bottles to the pitch. I was shown how the player tracking worked which was very interesting. While I was doing that the players were going into the changing room and I got to High Five all the players as they went into the changing room. It was awesome. I then got to sit behind the subs for the whole match, they were very nice and all signed my Munster rugby ball. I also got to meet my favourite player Ronan O Mahony. It was the best day ever, my sister Emma was so jealous but enjoyed the game too! Thanks so much to Ciara, Jack, the Munster staff and players and the MRSC for making my dream come true. It is a day I won’t ever forget."

MRSC Photographer: Alannah Brennan, Laois (10).

Alannah worked with MRSC photographer Linda Molloy and took photos of the fans pre and post-match in the Fan Zone Plaza and captured the action on the field from the side-line.

"I was over the moon to be selected as the MRSC photographer. It was absolutely an amazing experience. All the staff were extremely helpful and kind."

"My mentor was Linda Molloy and she was helpfull and very interesting. Linda showed me how to use a sports camera and how all the other cameras worked. My favourite photo that I took was of Francis Saili's try. Linda showed me how to capture action shots of all the players. Linda and I got to go around get photos of the fans and Oscar before the match and at half time."

"I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who had an interest in it. I would love to do it again. I would like to say thanks to the players and Ciara Lyons and of course Linda Molloy for a fantastic day…. And Come on Munster!!"

Oscars Helper: Isaac Dunlea, Cork (11).

Isaac made sure our mascot Oscar was on time to meet all his fans both outside and throughout the stadium and helped keep the young mischievous stag in check!

"When I arrived at Irish Independent Park my aunt took me to the Munster office and I met Ian from Munster Rugby Supporters Club. He told me what I needed to do step by step. He was really kind and helpful. Then I met Oscar! He told me to fill his water bottle. When it was time to go on the pitch it was very hard to keep Oscar under control. He kept running off and squirting people with water! He even squirted the other helpers which was funny! I wasn’t so happy when he squirted me though! We then watched the first half which was very exciting. Just before half time we went back out to the pitch – Oscar signed autographs and posed for pictures. My friend from school showed up which was a lovely surprise – Oscar and I posed for a picture with him. We then watched the rest of the match and I was so happy when Munster won and we got to keep the trophy. My aunt and my sister came to collect me from the Munster office after the match and I was so happy after my amazing day working for Munster."

Comms Assistant, Cillian Crowley, Bantry (15)

Cillian worked alongside Communications Manager Fiona Murphy creating and distributing the team sheets, guest tweeting and interviewing Axel post match!

"My experience of working with Munster was phenomenal. I loved absoloutley every minute of it. I met Ciara Lyons at the Dolphin End of the stadium and I got my media accreditation, which I wore with great pride for the evening and then we entered the stadium and got shown around and an idea of what my job would be for the night."

"To sit in the media/press area in the west stand was a dream come true. My ambition is to become a sports journalistcommentator, so my job for a day gave me a first hand experience of media and sports – I even got to guest tweet on the official Munster Rugby Twitter page! I really want to thank Munster Junior Supporters Club for organising this opportunity and thanks to Fiona Murphy for sharing her job with me. If there is ever another opportunity, I hope you keep me in mind."

Ball Boy/Girl: Chris Moran, Ballincollig (13) and Jennifer Williams, Midleton (14).

Working from the side-lines during warm up and during the game, they fed the rugby balls back to the Munster squad as needed for lineouts and restarts.

Jennifer:

"Thanks so much again for being selected as ball girl for the match last Friday! When I first got the call saying I was selected I was so excited! I couldn't believe it!"

"I was met at 4:20pm by Jennifer Murphy where I also met the other ball boys! I was nervous at the start but at the same time I couldn't wait to get started! Jennifer showed us to the changing room where we got ready for the day! Claire went through the training for us before the team began to warm up! Everyone was so lovely!
All the team began to warn up at around 6:15 and we were ready to roll! I was really beginning to enjoy myself and get stuck it giving the players the balls! A really unforgettable moment was when Jerry Flannery came over to us and wanted to see our kicking skills! It was really amazing despite my poor kicking attempts! But it was definitely a moment I will never forget!"

"Once the match started things really got excited and nerve-recking! It was brilliant to be able to see the match from a completely different angle! All the ball boys were positioned around the pitch and I was lucky enough to be right on the 22 on the stand side! So I really got to interact with the players up close during the match! Overall the whole experience was incredible! It was such a rush to have an important job on the day!
Everyone at Munster was so lovely and welcoming to me! I really enjoyed the whole experience!
I'm so thankful to all for being selected for this experience which I won't forget!"

Chris:

"Thank you for having me as a ball boy for the Munster v London Irish game in Independent Park. I had a fantastic experience on the day and everyone was very helpful. We went on the pitch knowing exactly what was needed and what to expect. The fact that we were so close to the players and the match meant that we had a better view and felt the atmosphere more than if we were in the stands. All in all I enjoyed the whole day and would do it again in a second."