The match stats for Peter O’Mahony read average but those that were at Thomond Park on Saturday night, they know the full story.
Munster’s captain made his seasonal debut against Ospreys down in Cork last month and has not been out of the team yet. He senses his team are close to something they have not done in a generation.
He’s not the only one. On Wednesday, at a media event in Dublin, Conor Murray explained to us why he had signed on for three more seasons:
“I’ve been saying it for years, every time this crops up, it’s ‘Oh, we’re building something, we’re getting there’ and then we change coach or something happens or we don’t quite perform at the semi-final stage. This year, more than ever – and it might sound like I’ve said it before –Â I’m really excited about Munster, really, really excited.”
Murray may not have been as excited when, after 60 minutes, Munster trailed a rampant Glasgow Warriors side 24-10. The Scots had run Munster ragged and looked set to hand them their second Guinness PRO14 defeat in two months.
Peter O’Mahony and his Munster teammates just about clung on for that hour but as long as there was a chance, they never gave up. Before we get to the late heroics, though, let us look at O’Mahony’s performance. It is one that may cost him a game against Italy in Soldier Field next Saturday, not that he would care about that right now.
The raw statistics state that O’Mahony made six carries for five metres gained, and that he stuck six tackles as well as missing four (an unusually poor return). However, over the course of his 80+ minute game, he was feverish at the breakdown, stole two Glasgow lineouts, turned over the ball by dispossessing a charging Nick Grigg and prevented what looked to be a certain try in the right-hand corner. He claimed his fourth turnover of the match in the penultimate play of the game.
O’Mahony was in the thick of it early on, squaring up to winger Rory Hughes and taking a few pushes and shunts from Hughes’ Glasgow teammates. He answered back by picking off Glasgow’s first lineout.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcmnOdhLQ9/?hl=en&taken-by=sportsjoedotie
That steal sparked a Keith Earls line break that gobbled up 50 metres and led to James Cronin’s try, soon after. The seed of doubt had also been planted in the mind of hooker Grant Stewart and O’Mahony stole a second lineout later in the half.
Relentless
Glasgow were relentless, though. They wasted as many scoring chances as they converted but they came on in droves.
43 minutes in and O’Mahony prevented a try when he stopped Grigg from offloading to the unmarked George Horne in support. The ball was knocked forward in the tackle and Munster survived.
One Munster turnover and two minutes later, O’Mahony was required to put his body on the line to prevent another score.
He teamed up with Billy Holland and got his hand on the ball, on the Munster line, as it was jarred loose. Chris Cloete somewhat blotted this defensive play by taking a man out off the ball, conceding a penalty and getting sin-binned.
Credit: eir SportAs the TMO looped his latest try-saver, O’Mahony was receiving treatment for the second time that night.
He may well have came ashore at that stage but, with Cloete yellow-carded, there was no way he was leaving.
On O’Mahony waged. His carries and tackles did not have the same bite in the final 20 minutes but he still got about the pitch, cleared out rucks and showed for carries.
He was clearly aching but Munster were inching their way back, first through Alex Wootton and then through Alby Mathewson.
Rory Scannell was rash in kicking possession back to Glasgow with six minutes to play, but Munster’s 15 left on the pitch – some fresh bodies, some jaded – convinced themselves they would get one more chance.
At 79:45 on the clock, they did. O’Mahony won them the chance to win the game.
Just seeing it back now – with thanks to @eirSport – but O'Mahony won that final penalty for Munster.
What a game for the captain. pic.twitter.com/uKvLxhfKzJ— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) October 27, 2018
As Rory Scannell told Billy Holland and Ian Keatley that he fancied his chances with the penalty, O’Mahony was down receiving treatment for the third time in the game.
He was absolutely shot. He had drained himself for his province.
All he could do, as every part of his body screamed and the cold, Limerick air seared his lungs, was hope that it had all been enough.
Scannell with the last kick of the game. Some, if they are honest, will admit they doubted whether the inside centre could be the hero. Scannell didn’t doubt it for a second.
Over the kick went and Munster won 25-24.
As Thomond Park erupted, it was only then that Peter O’Mahony’s body gave up. The job had been done and he had played a monumental part in getting it done.
Munster players flocked to Scannell – and rightly so – but it was worth noting how O’Mahony got some acknowledgement too.
Ireland are due to fly out to Chicago on Monday morning.
We would be mildly surprised if O’Mahony joined them on that flight, but astounded if he played Italy at Soldier Field next Saturday.
