Billy Cronin was a highly respected number eight for Garryowen and Sundays Well RFC.
Q. What are your memories of your early rugby career?
A. I started playing with Sundays Well aged fifteen, Michael Barry senior collected me in Mallow with six lads from Christians and six from Pres. Mick Barry recommended to my father that I join Rockwell College for fifth and sixth year despite my strong Gaelic football background. I subsequently received a ban from the GAA as I become more prominent in Rugby getting selected for Munster schoolboys. I won the cup in 1970 with Rockwell but was defeated in the semi-final in my last year.
Q. When did you get your first senior break?
A. I joined UCC and ended up on the senior team partnering Castleisland man Moss Keane in the second row. Moss drove me to my first match in a ‘Fiat 500’ with many UCC hurlers and basketballers packed into the same car. We won the Munster senior league in 1972/73 and I also played championship GAA as the ban was now lifted.
Q. What were the highlights of your playing career?
A. I got selected for Munster Juniors while in UCC but in a variety of positions, numbers 3,5,8. In 1975, I got selected for the Senior Munster XV while playing number 8 for Garryowen. We kept it very tight in the 1979 cup final against Young Munster (winning 3-0). I asked Pat Whelan ‘when would I leave the ball out of the scrum’ and he responded ‘Around half past four’.
Q. Who was your most difficult opponent?
A. Colm Tucker was my most difficult opponent and Christy Cantillionn was difficult to contain when playing with UCC. In Gaelic Football John Meyler of St. Fin barres was a formidable opponent when we wont the 1985 Final beating St. Finbarr’s (Aravale Rovers).
Q. Have you been involved in the game since you stopped playing?
A. My two sons have emerged as prominent players. Jerry Cronin propped for Ulster in the Heineken Cup
after emerging from the successful Ballinahynch team coached by Brian Mclaughlan. My other son Sam
Cronin scrum half for Clontarf has captained Irish clubs. I owned Mona’s (Sheehan’s) pub in Mallow and we received a phone call from Shannon Airport one day (around 1980) for Sundays Well players to leave urgently for their tour flight to the USA. The pub was latterly adapted by Garryowen and Young Munster before Mallow was bypassed.
Available Online@anycraiccork.com

Blast From The Past
David Corkery burst into the Irish team on a tour to Australia in 1994 receiving a strong endorsement from Micheal Lynagh but had to retire prematurely due to injury problems.
Q. What are your memories of your early rugby career?
A. I started in Old Christians under eights not taking to the game initially. As I progressed I started to enjoy the game scoring up to five or six trys in many games . I joined Cbc under fourteen on rugby scholarship in second year and at the time I played hurling and football for Brian Dillons in Mayfield. During my time in Cbc, Pres dominated the Senior cup with future Irish coach Declan Kidney driving this success.
Q. When did you get your first senior break?
A. I debuted for Cork Con in a relegation battle against Greystones scoring two tries having broken in due to injuries in the Senior squad. I grew up quickly in Con having to earn the respect of the dressing room with good performances in matches and training. I subsequently joined Bristol as the game went fully professional in 1995 and had two seasons with a team which included a young Martin Corry .I returned to Munster in 1997 as provincial rugby became the prototype for the Irish pro game.
Q. What were the highlights of your playing career?
A. The 1995 world cup was my highlight as I started all four games and was voted Irish player of the tournament. I remember facing New Zealand with Sean Fitzpatrick and Jonah Lomu and I actually scored against the All Blacks. Despite this international success pulling on the Munster jersey gave me my greatest satisfaction.
Q. Who was your most difficult opponent?
A. I loved international games against England and enjoyed England loose head props Jason Leonard sociability off the field and his toughness in matches. admired the raw talent of Eddie Ha Ivey playing for Munster and enjoyed playing with Jerry Murray, Frank Sheehan, and Brian o Meara around the time Con won their second Ail title in 1999.
Q. Have you been involved in the game since you stopped playing?
A. I retired from Professional rugby in 2000 with a multiple of injuries including a ruptured cruciate and disc problems in my back .I joined Munster as development officer for six seasons and then coached a variety of Clubs including Bandon Clonakilty Midleton and Sundays Well who I made six Ail appearances for aged
41.Rugby has taught me how to be a winner and other life skills.