MICHAEL MILNE always had ambitions to play at Croke Park with a sliotar – but hopes his rise to Leinster’s Champions Cup team sees him do it with the oval ball.
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Prop Milne, 25, is in South Africa this week ahead of Leinster’s URC meeting with Stormers in the build-up to Saturday week’s Champions Cup semi with Northampton at Croke Park.
The Dublin 3 venue is one that Offaly man Milne knows well, but not as well as he wants.
The Faithful’s struggles mean fewer reasons for him to go, and his own hurling ambitions ended eight years ago when he chose rugby.
Milne said: “Whenever Offaly are there I am anyway. One of my good friends (Eoghan Cahill) hurls with Offaly.
“Whenever they’re there in the Joe McDonagh, but I haven’t been there for any big days yet!
“The last time I was in Croke Park was Offaly playing U20 football against Roscommon (All-Ireland final in August 2021).
“I played Under-17 county challenge. I’m always telling the boys there’s a YouTube video of me in the Celtic Challenge.
“I played up to Under-17 and minor and then kind of gave it up. I was a full forward. I wasn’t mobile enough to play anywhere else.”
Instead, Milne moved from Birr and then joined the Leinster Academy as he progressed at Ireland level, as part of the Grand Slam winning Under-20 team in 2019.
He has seen teammates Harry Byrne and Craig Casey go on into the Ireland squad though Milne – who has trained with Ireland – has taken longer to climb the ladder.
LEINSTER ACADEMY
The loosehead added: “It probably took me a few years to get up to the speed of things in professional rugby. I probably came out of school a bit fat and lazy but got there eventually.
“You look at Bairdo (Ryan Baird) and lads like that, their form in internationals and for Leinster every week, and that gives you confidence to kick on.”
His wait was also down to his place in the Leinster pecking order when Andrew Porter and Cian Healy have been immovable objects ahead of him for the loosehead position.
But there was a big moment for the La Rochelle quarterfinal when Leo Cullen selected Milne ahead of the vastly experienced Healy in the matchday 23.
Milne continued: “It was class. It was my first time playing in a sold-out Aviva. Lads always talk about how good it is, but you don’t really experience it until you’re playing. It was class.
“You’re obviously grateful that they trust you, but you’re like ‘right, I’ve got a job to do now’.
“I’m not sure if I delivered as much as I wanted to, but obviously I was delighted to get the opportunity.
“It gives you confidence to kick on as well. You’re like ‘look, if I’m playing well you will pick me’.”
He was also grateful for the support he got from Healy on the occasion despite the pair of them vying for the same position.
Milne continued: “When the team was named he was the first one to come over and shake my hand.
CROKE CLASH
“He was so supportive all week. Church (what Healy is called by teammates) has done everything in the game so all you can do is learn off him.
“Anything I needed he was very helpful. Before the game he just made sure to enjoy it. Don’t let the occasion get the better of you. I tried to do that. You learn so much from him.”
Now the pair will compete for a place again with Healy – the only Leinster man involved he last time the side played at Croke Park, against Munster in 2009, hoping for a recall.
But Milne is keen to get another chance, and hopes to show why against Stormers on Saturday.
He added: “A sold-out Croke Park is something special, isn’t it? I think a sold-out day with Leinster will be class, but I suppose the main focus is Stormers really.”
