After much excitement, Munster's dream of reaching a first Champions Cup final in ten years fell short at the last hurdle today.
With an immense number of fans making the journey to Bordeaux, it seemed at times that Munster had wrenched the home-nation advantage away from the French side Racing 92.
However, after a monumental first-half performance from the Parisians, Munster were ultimately left with too much to do, in too little time.
To the credit of the players and their fans though, the enthusiasm for the challenge never once dropped. Even as the game ultimately slipped beyond the players' grasp, the Munster fans were remarkable in their continued support.
Aware undoubtedly that this defeat signaled the final European appearance of Simon Zebo, they put their own disappointment to one side to celebrate a legend.
“Zebo, Zebo, Zebo...” Not goodbye just yet, but somebody has his boots for souvenirs. Huge ovation for Donnacha Ryan as well. Once as Munsterman... pic.twitter.com/EHIdEh5T2Z
— Nick Mullins (@andNickMullins) April 22, 2018
Crowd sing Simon Zebo' s name as his European career with Munster ends. They got a taste of life without him today and it wasn't pretty. Attack improved infinitely when he came on pic.twitter.com/TWfTaclUmJ
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) April 22, 2018
Taken with their relentless chanting, Zebo offered them what he could - the boots on his feet finding a new home among the crowd.
After a huge ‘Zebo, Zebo’ chant, he throws his boots into the crowd. pic.twitter.com/6qOSzmoZti
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) April 22, 2018
Racing 92's Donnacha Ryan was similarly given a rousing amount of support from the Munster fans.
Speaking afterward of his disappointment for his former teammates, Ryan was given the unusual gift of a sliotar from one eager member in the crowd.
One of the Munster fans has just thrown Donnacha Ryan a sliotar! pic.twitter.com/GnyiymoUHL
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) April 22, 2018
