Peter O’Mahony was a man born to lead. To take the fight to teams. To make a difference.
The Munster captain is back in the Ireland back row, dominating lineouts and breakdowns, and enjoying another fine season for his province.
Read the full, inspiring story of #TheMakingOf a @Munsterrugby and @IrishRugby hero by @jackjotoolehttps://t.co/sBmVcrz9Vk
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 3, 2018
In the past two years O’Mahony has gone from Ireland captain in waiting to long-term injury victim, has hit the comeback trail hard, returned more determined than ever, rocked England in Dublin, captained the Lions and signed a new, three-year contract with Munster. He is now a Grand Slam winner too.
It is no surprise to us that O’Mahony is one of the biggest heroes currently playing rugby on these shores. Here’s why:
1. ‘No contact’ or ‘full contact’, O’Mahony brings it
From The Battle – on Peter O'Mahony and training pic.twitter.com/9MO0WW67cG
— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) June 20, 2017
2. He backs his teammates to the hilt
Following Munster’s disappointing PRO12 final loss to Scarlets, O’Mahony was queried about some of his teammates falling off tackles in the closing stages. He bristled at the suggestion that the fight had gone out of Munster.
“I wouldn’t accept that at all… Any team that’s chasing a lead is open to a couple of intercepts or getting a pass behind you, getting caught behind the gainline and you’re in trouble then.
“So I wouldn’t accept that for one second, that there wasn’t effort or there weren’t trying out there.”
3. His first start of the 2017 Lions Tour went as expected
Take a bow Peter O'Mahony.
82 minute shift
7 carries
5 successful tackles
1 turnover
1 lineout steal
👏🏻#CRUvBIL pic.twitter.com/3FEKiLtuNf— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 10, 2017
4. He has no airs or graces
He wanted to start for Ireland in the 2016 November Series and 2017 Six Nations. Tasked, instead, with being an impact sub, he did not disappoint.
IMPACT DELIVERED!
5. He’s doing this for Cork, and Cork Con
6. ‘When he speaks, people listen’
Also known, in Munster, as ‘The Leamy Effect’.
Steve Borthwick hails the leadership qualities of #MABvBIL captain, @peterom6: https://t.co/3HwhxqXg0x pic.twitter.com/ZvBeA8h4wI
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 16, 2017
7. He was a leader from his earliest days at Munster
Former Munster assistant coach Ian Costello speaking about a young O’Mahony in ‘The New Breed’.
8. He is a lineout demon
9. He is passionate as hell
10. He had a fantastic role model
Here is O’Mahony as a Cork Con ball boy during one of Munster’s Heineken Cup matches at Musgrave Park.
A look of pure awe as Keith Wood prepares a lineout throw.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPqLtWYj9JY/?taken-by=peteomahony&hl=en
11. Will Greenwood knows the craic
12. He always has time for the fans
13. He captured the broken-hearted mood of the Munster squad, and faithful, when coach Anthony Foley tragically passed away
He had to fight back the tears several times in a darkened briefing room at Munster’s University of Limerick headquarters. Mere days after Foley’s untimely passing, in Paris, O’Mahony spoke so eloquently:
“I grew up following him around the place, even though he didn’t know it. And then to be allowed come in and rub shoulders with guys like him… he had just finished playing when I came into the academy and my developmental contract.
“But for him to be around and to be allowed talk to him and be in his presence was a dream come true at the time. It stayed that way up until last weekend.”
14. … and played like a man to a legacy to protect when Munster next took the field
15. Lions [and Ireland] defence coach Andy Farrell told us exactly what you will get with O’Mahony
“He never takes a backward step and we believe that those leadership qualities will serve us well.”
16. He filled in as emergency winger when Ireland were ravaged with injury in the 2013 Six Nations
17. This manly hug with CJ Stander after they had argued out on the pitch
18. He knows just how the journey was and appreciates every single step
Ahead of the Lions squad announcement, in April, he spoke with The Irish Times about how hard it was to even break into professional rugby. He said:
“I was told, ‘There are 28 of you in the room, if we get two of you out of this room to play Heineken Cup rugby we will be doing well’.
“That puts it in perspective of how far you have to travel in your rugby career to be a Lion.”
19. THAT performance against France in the World Cup…
20. Keith Wood knows exactly why he was selected by the Lions
The Munster, Ireland and Lions legend believes O’Mahony is truly special. Wood told BBC 5 Live:
“I know there were doubts that Peter O’Mahony would be picked but I had no doubts at all. The guy is a nuisance.
“You want him on the field. You want him in the jersey. He’ll annoy everybody and I mean absolutely everybody. I mean arms and legs everywhere… he’s just the most perfect nuisance to have in the team.”
Peter O'Mahony is one of 11 Irish players selected in the #Lions2017 squad.
Keith Wood thinks he's 'the perfect nuisance'! pic.twitter.com/bBojiUNguB
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) April 19, 2017
21. He can turn it on when he has to
Look at that show and GO!
22. He has one of the most Cork accents out there
“Whaaaat is going onnnn?!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVlYLBIAQyT/?taken-by=peteomahony&hl=en
23. ‘Absolute gent’
Team first. Always team first.
When a wretched knee injury ended O’Mahony’s excellent 2015 World Cup campaign, the back row was quick to contact replacement Rhys Ruddock and wish him the very best. Ruddock recalled:
“I think it was the night he got the injury, he texted me to say he was delighted to hear I was coming over.
“It shows what a quality bloke he is on top of being a quality player. That’d be the last thing on most people’s minds, absolute gent. I had a conversation with him and wished him a speedy recovery.”
24. He was gas craic when he took part in the JOE ‘Tombola of Truth’
“She’s langers, lads!”
25. John O’Mahony did a fine job raising his son
His efforts have not been forgotten. They will never be forgotten.
Proud moment for @peterom6 captaining @lionsofficial to a win over #MaoriAllBlacks and celebrating with his dad afterwards! #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/Y161JXmbr2
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) June 17, 2017
26. A ringing endorsement from CJ Stander
The Munster, Ireland and Lions star told reporters in New Zealand:
“He is a great leader. He’s my captain at Munster and he works hard for the team,’ said Stander. “His heart is on his sleeve and I don’t think there’s an awful lot of leaders like him.”
“He shows it on the pitch and he shows it in his aggression. He is a great captain and we all know that – he will make us proud.”
27. He learned the captaincy ropes from one of the greatest
54 reasons why Paul O'Connell is Ireland's greatest living human being #RWC2015 http://t.co/YZlbj8Eljy pic.twitter.com/uxoTpNsAFj
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 19, 2015
28. He stands up for his teammates. Never question their intensity!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ-sDyFF_VZ/?taken-by=sportsjoedotie
29. His text message to Chris Farrell after Ireland won the Grand Slam
The Munster and Ireland centre was man of the match in the win over Wales but got badly injured in training soon after. Farrell told The Hard Yards:
“I was worried about what it would be like. Thinking, ‘Ach, I don’t want to be walking into the Shelbourne after only having one game to play’. I was nervous about it and was feeling that this may not be my place, but it was perfect….
“And even Sunday morning, when they were still in London, I got a text message from Peter O’Mahony saying, ‘Well done. Congratulations’.
30. His Fields of Athenry rendition
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgehAIOBiaX/?taken-by=patrickmccarry
31. Giving away his Six Nations medal to superfan Jennifer Malone
After today's game @peterom6 gave his @SixNationsRugby winner's medal to young fan Jennier Malone! @IrishRugby #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/T6dGnqes2d
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) March 17, 2018
Some man from one man.
*Updated from ’27 reasons Peter O’Mahony will do Munster, Ireland and the Lions proud’ first published in June 2017
