Rory Keane reports from Guildford
THE ENFORCER. It’s a term that doesn’t sit well with Peter O’Mahony.
Ireland’s blindside is as confrontational as they come on the pitch, but, off it, O’Mahony tries to avoid the limelight. He does his talking on the field.
Therefore, when it’s put to the Corkman that many international sides now see him as the Irish hitman, very much in the mould of a Bakkies Botha or a Brad Thorn, O’Mahony looks uncomfortable. He doesn’t need praise or validation; he just gets on with it.
“It is obviously a compliment and I’ll certainly take it,” said O’Mahony. “I just try to go about things the same as I can every weekend and try to lift my physicality depending on who I am playing against. I just try and be as physical as I can and be at the coal-face as often as I can.”
If Sunday’s game at the Olympic Stadium is anything like Ireland’s World Cup clash with Italy back in 2011, O’Mahony and his team-mates are in for a hugely physical encounter.
Four years ago, Ireland stormed to a 36-6 victory in Dunedin with Keith Earls bagging a brace on his 24th birthday. It was a wonderful occasion with Declan Kidney’s side securing top spot in Pool C, but the contest was marred by a number of unsavoury off-the-ball incidents including Leonardo Ghiraldini’s eye gouge on Cian Healy.
“I think you are getting to a stage now where every game is going to be physical the way rugby has gone,” said the Munster captain. “The way players are built, physicality is a huge part of every game, it is a huge part of psychology, it is a certainly a huge part of the pack mentality that we live in, that we have grown up in… it is important for every international we play in.”
O’Mahony sat out the comprehensive victory against the Romanians and has been feeling the benefits off a week off: “It was great having the rest and some of us have had some gym sessions and had the weekend off and it’s been great. Guys are going really well with their weights and stuff and they’ve benefited from having the few days off. So it was really good.”
Saying that, he did feel envious watching his team-mates run out at Wembley in front of 90,000 fans amid a sea of green.
“Yeah, that’s the thing,” O’Mahony explained. “You want to be involved in every game, but obviously you’ve got to listen to the staff, the S & C guys and there’s talk behind what they’re doing. But obviously, missing out on the weekend, with 90,000 fans out there, it’s something that you’d love to be involved in, but, as I said, you’ve got to take the advice and row in behind what the guys are doing.”
O’Mahony’s work over the ball at ruck time has been his trademark over the past few seasons but there have been signs of his game developing during this World Cup.
Against Canada, the 26-year-old flanker passed more than he carried as Ireland ran their opponents off their feet in Cardiff.
“Yeah it is, it’s something that I would pride myself on but I probably haven’t been doing enough of,” said O’Mahony on his link play.
“I’ve just been doing a bit of work on it in the last couple of weeks and probably just becoming a bit more comfortable with it at the international level. It’s something that I hope I can build on.”
Italy have not been their best in recent times and currently occupy 14th place in the world rankings. O’Mahony, however, is expecting a monstrous challenge this weekend: “They‘re a very tough side to play against, obviously they have an extremely formidable pack.
“(Sergio) Parisse coming back in this week is obviously a big lift for them. Guys like (Josh) Furno and Ghiraldini, there’s world class players in their pack and in their backline as well. Every time we come against them, it’s hugely physical so it’s going to be an extremely tough game.”
Against a gnarly Azzurri pack, Ireland will need O’Mahony at his feral best.
cork needed the win more …limerick competed …both sides will be happy at this stage in the year .
Dont know where ye got the stat that limerick were looking to secure their 5th victory on the bounce over cork. Their last 2 meetings were draws
@domas1507: Getting bate after extra time doesn’t count no?
@Padraig McElligott: actually no. The game us officially recorded as a draw if its level at full time. The extra time is to decide who goes forward but the game is officially a draw
@domas1507: Limerick beat Cork on the day officially or otherwise. The last two meetings between the two sides before today – one draw and one Limerick victory. You don’t draw your way into an All Ireland Final.
@Padraig McElligott: we all know ye won so congratulations again and again and again
@Padraig McElligott: So they weren’t going for their 5th victory on the bounce. Thanks for clearing that up.
Should have been thr result in last year’s semi-final…
@Forfar So Good: Hmmm juicy lemons….
@Colm O’Sullivan: Thought i might get someone to bite:-)
@Forfar So Good: aaaaw
Cork deserved the win. They have found a centre back in Tim O’Mahony. He was my man of the match. Limerick could never get into their stride like in previous weeks, and when they did they gifted Cork their second goal. The two new boys, Dooley for Cork and O’Brien for Limerick both performed well. It’s the kickstart that Cork needed and a kick up the backside that Limerick will eventually welcome.
@Colm O’Sullivan: thats probably the best thing said about the game. Fair play
Unbelievable win for Cork against the greatest team to ever play the game and shoe ins for the all Ireland.
Hopefully results like this will help the game develop in developing hurling counties like Cork etc
@damien o brien: :-))))))
@damien o brien: lol
@damien o brien: such unwarranted bitterness and condescension. Well done Cork the better team won today.
There will be absolutely nothing in it if these teams were to meet in the championship.
Will do Limerick no harm at all to taste defeat
@Alan Fitzgerald: Ah jaysus Alan go out and get a bit of air I’d say..
That limerick fella isn’t saying much now!!!!
Great win for Cork, who could have had a few more goals. Held on when it looked for all the money Limerick were going to go through them.
That’s a great result for Cork, winning away to the All-Ireland champions.
Sluggish display from Limerick, did well to draw it back level but missed chances proved costly in the end.
On to Ennis next week now.
So we have a championship after all !! This time last week they were handing Liam to Limerick ….
@David O’Neill: Not really. Prior to Limerick beating Kilkenny and to a lesser degree Tipp, the media have spent pre season telling everyone how Limerick will struggle to get out of Munster let alone mount a title challenge again. Only when they beat Kilkenny did the media have to eat their words and back peddle somewhat to give this team some credit. Any Limerick fan will tell you that they’ll treat every game in Munster and on like a cup final, however we’re tired of being brandished nothing more than a team that “gives 100% commitment”, though plenty of that it’s high time they recognise the skill levels of our hurlers.
@No: Limerick are a serious team and as you say Munster is a minefield but how these journalists make predictions like that in February is beyond me !!! What i will say is 6 or 7 teams will feel they can win it this year !!
@No: You’re a bit over the top there. Nobody is brandishing Limerick like you say. Everyone recognises their skill levels. But they’re starting with a clean slate this year. They’ve a 60% chance of coming out of Munster. No more nor no less than the other 4 counties.
Should’ve been a draw. I don’t begrudge cork there win . But the ref gave limerick a free in 5 from the end …. he hadn’t seen the hand pass to Cian Lynch who was thundering down on the goals with only the keeper to beat ….and he knows he made a mistake (an should have played the advantage) because he wrapped both hands around his head!!
Big scalp for Cork hurlers today.
@Anyone But Cork: actually was cheers. Considering the last few results. Thanks for your support. ; )
Martin Brennan won’t know what to do with himself now tonight with that win!!
Cork needed that big time and that defeat could well be a blessing in disguise for Limerick considering the way they have been built up in the last couple of weeks. Limerick have proved they can win an All-Ireland and will be there or thereabouts again this year. Hopefully Cork improve from last year but still think we are a couple of players short.