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Peter O'Mahony: 'I'd be lying if I said it wasn't weird'
By Simon Thomas
Peter O’Mahony admits it will be an emotional evening when he makes his final appearance at Limerick’s Thomond Park this weekend.
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But he insists the absolute priority is helping Munster Rugby secure a vital victory over Ulster Rugby as they look to book a place in the BKT URC Play-Offs.
The 35-year-old flanker is retiring at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career which has brought him 114 caps for Ireland, close on 200 appearances for his province, plus the honour of captaining the British & Irish Lions in the first Test against New Zealand in 2017.
“I am certainly very proud of some of the things I will be leaving behind and that we’ve accomplished as a group in this club and with Ireland,” said the man from Cork.
“But when you are in the white heat of it, it’s hard to kind of look back really.
“Every time I’ve finished a season, I’ve had the next one to look forward to. You go away, you clear the head, you get the body right and you are back into another pre-season and you are on to chasing the whole thing again.
“But I don’t have that now, so I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t weird. It is a strange feeling. This is the last bit for me, so I’m sure I will have a think about it afterwards, but there’s a lot to get stuck into at the moment.”
He continued: “I have enjoyed the season. There have been ups and downs, but that’s part of the game, that’s sport. I’ve loved it.
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“I’ve picked up a couple of niggles here and there, soft tissue stuff that I have stayed away from for most of my career. The physios have been looking at me with two heads, as I’m not normally in their room being looked after like that.
“But that’s probably part of old age and the body creaking a little bit, but I’m fit now, I feel good and I’m looking forward to the games to come.”
Having shaken off a hamstring problem, O’Mahony returns on the blindside for Friday night’s meeting with Ulster, as he makes his Thomond Park swansong, with ninth-placed Munster looking to move back into the top eight after successive league defeats to the Vodacom Bulls and Cardiff.
“I know it’s going to be an emotional evening. I’ve had some great memories there and it’s a place that’s very special to me,” he said.
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“I’m very grateful for what that stadium has given to me. Friends, memories, important stuff. I’ve been very lucky in my career with the people I’ve played alongside and have helped me and what the fans have given to me in there is second to none.
“I’m not going to say I haven’t thought about it, but the position that we have ourselves in, performance is paramount.
“The most important way for me to finish there is by winning there. It’s important for the club for us to win.
“So, yeah, I’ve certainly thought about it, but you always bring it back to the weekend, don’t you?
“We are expecting a big physical derby. Ulster coming down here is always a spicy one. Derbies in general always seem to add a bit more.”
Looking at the opposition, he added: “They have the potential to be incredibly good.
“We have looked at a fairly extensive highlights reel of them playing some very impressive rugby.
“They have a very classy kicking game, while the pack are all very athletic and dynamic
“They have threats everywhere, but you have to focus on yourself and hopefully we’ll have what it takes to get the win.”
As his career enters its final straight, O’Mahony admits: “I will 100 per cent miss it. I’m sure I’ll be sitting here next year watching guys go out, be it for Munster or for Ireland, and have that sick feeling of not being there.
“But there’s parts of it I won’t miss as well. It’s tough and it gets harder when you’re a bit older. There’s a lot of stuff to do. It’s a lot of pressure and it will be nice to not have that pressure for a period.”
He concluded: “I’ve been very, very lucky injury-wise, selection-wise. I’ve grown up around probably better rugby players, but I figured out a way to get myself picked. I’ve won a fair bit, which I look back on with huge fond memories.
“Our honours board has my name all over it for different reasons and I’m sure, when I step back from it, it will mean a huge amount to me, all those things.
“So I do consider myself very lucky and I’m hugely proud. I’m sure I’ll think back and I do have regrets, but everything I did was for a good cause and was for both here and for Ireland to get better.”
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Go well, hero! A titan of the game.
I’ve written a poem for you, Pete. I’m not sure that you look at these pages though and I’d be embarrassed that people would ridicule it. You’re probably busy getting prepped for the match anyways. Maybe another time.
Thanks for the memories.