Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 4:58pm

Rugby dream comes true for fanatical fan

by John Donohoe

Sean Ryan from Bohermeen will accompany Brian O'Driscoll onto the pitch at Croke Park for Saturday's Six Nations opening match against Italy.
Pic by==: 97

This weekend's opening match in the Six Nations rugby championship against Italy is being eagerly anticipated by everybody following Ireland's Grand Slam success last year, but for one young Bohermeen lad, there is an extra special reason for looking forward to the game against Italy in Croke Park.

Young Sean Ryan (13) from Grange, Bohermeen, has been selected as one of the two mascots that will accompany Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll onto the hallowed Croke Park turf on Saturday.

Sean, who is a fanatical sports supporter, first got the news about a month ago and is hugely excited about the prospects of meeting the Irish rugby team.

Sean often attends Irish international soccer matches, but the game against France in the Six Nations last year was his first time to attend a rugby match. And despite the fact that he uses a prosthetic leg, he was well able to make his way to the pitch where he met his heroes.

"I have Gordon D'Arcy's socks from that game," Sean says. "He took them off and gave them to me after the game, throwing an eye at my mother to see if she'd approve," Sean laughs. "They've been washed since!"

In that game, D'Arcy, who came on for Paddy Wallace, put Ireland back in control of the game with a 66th minute try.

Sean, a son of Denis and Annie Ryan, attends St Patrick's Classical School in Navan, where he is in first year. He has an older brother, Tommy (18) and sister, Mary (12) and he previously attended St Oliver Plunkett's Primary School in Navan.

Born without his right leg from the upper mid-thigh, and his left arm from above the elbow, he has never let this affect him in any way and has played soccer and football, and follows all sports from hurling to rugby.

On one occasion when playing with St Oliver's, he found his prosthetic arm a nuisance, and threw it over to the sideline! He prefers to leave it off, as he manages to play better without it.

At that French game last year, he also met Rory Best and Geordan Murphy, but his real hero is Ronan O'Gara, who is his favourite rugby player.

And what about Jonathon Sexton creeping into the number 10 shirt? "It'll never happen!" he says, before adding: "Well, I suppose it will, sometime."

The Cork Constitution and Munster star is starting on Saturday, earning his 94th cap, according to the team announced yesterday (Tuesday), and another of Sean's favourites, Leinster's Rob Kearney, is also in the starting lineup.

And as well as meeting all his rugby heroes on Saturday, Sean will also have the privilege of meeting the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, whose attendance at the game has been confirmed and who will greet Sean and the players on the pitch. As part of the day, Sean will receive a full replica kit from the Irish Football Rugby Union to remember his special Six Nations day.

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