Latest news with #PeterOMahony
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Munster fought to 'bitter end'
Munster lost in the URC quarter-finals for the first time since 2022 [Getty Images] Munster captain Tadhg Beirne said "there was nothing more" he could ask of his team-mates after their United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss to Sharks was decided by a place-kick competition. The visitors to Durban had led 21-10 in the second half but, after the game finished 24-24 and neither side scored during extra time, the Sharks were a perfect six-from-six in their shots at goal, while Rory Scannell was wayward off the tee for Munster. Advertisement "They're riddled with internationals, they know what they're doing," said Beirne of the Sharks who will now face the Bulls in the semi-finals. "We knew they were going to keep coming at us, we knew they would be a tough battle, and we fought to the bitter end. "There's nothing more I could ask of the lads. To go to a penalty shootout or whatever you call that there is gutting for us, but that's the way it goes and that's the way we lost the game." The defeat represented final Munster appearances for Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer. "There's no tomorrow for us this season and we have to say goodbye to some pretty special characters within this room," added Beirne, who will tour with the British and Irish Lions for a second time this summer. "It's going to be a weird place without them, we've spoken about it before. "They epitomise Munster, they love the club and they put blood, sweat and tears in for the club."
BBC News
20 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Munster fought to 'bitter end'
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne said "there was nothing more" he could ask of his team-mates after their United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss to Sharks was decided by a place-kick visitors to Durban had led 21-10 in the second half but, after the game finished 24-24 and neither side scored during extra time, the Sharks were a perfect six-from-six in their shots at goal, while Rory Scannell was wayward off the tee for Munster. "They're riddled with internationals, they know what they're doing," said Beirne of the Sharks who will now face the Bulls in the semi-finals."We knew they were going to keep coming at us, we knew they would be a tough battle, and we fought to the bitter end."There's nothing more I could ask of the lads. To go to a penalty shootout or whatever you call that there is gutting for us, but that's the way it goes and that's the way we lost the game."The defeat represented final Munster appearances for Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer."There's no tomorrow for us this season and we have to say goodbye to some pretty special characters within this room," added Beirne who will tour with the British and Irish Lions for a second time this summer."It's going to be a weird place without them, we've spoken about it before. "They epitomise Munster, they love the club and they put blood, sweat and tears in for the club."
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Munster unchanged again for Sharks quarter-final
Munster interim boss Ian Costello has again named an unchanged team for his side's United Rugby Championship quarter-final against the Sharks in Durban (17:30 BST). Jack Crowley is retained at fly-half having overcome a rib injury in recent weeks, with former Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony and Stephen Archer are named in the pack in what could be their final game before retirement. Centre Rory Scannell is set to make his 200th Munster appearance off the bench. Also named among the replacements is former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray, who will leave the club this summer. The Sharks, who beat Munster 41-24 in Durban in October, name a team loaded with South Africa internationals, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am. Sharks: Fassi; Hooker, Am, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Nche, Mbonambi, Koch; Etzebeth (capt), Jenkins; Venter, Tshituka, Kolisi. Replacements: Mbatha, Mchunu, Jacobs, Van Heerden, Buthelezi, Davids, Venter, Abrahams; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Craig Casey; Milne, Niall Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Barron, Wycherley, Ryan, Ahern, Kendellen, Murray, Scannell, Haley.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
O'Mahony, Cane and Murray named in Barbarians squad
Ireland greats Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray and former New Zealand captain Sam Cane have been named in the Barbarians squad for next month's fixture against South Africa. Flanker O'Mahony and scrum-half Murray retired from international rugby following this year's Six Nations after decorated careers in green, while Cane ended his time with the All Blacks at the end of 2024. The Irish duo both won five Six Nations titles and represented the British and Irish Lions during their Test also a flanker, earned 104 New Zealand caps and helped his country win the 2015 World Cup. However, he became the first male player in World Cup history to be sent off in a final during the All Blacks' defeat by South Africa at the 2023 Barbarians take on back-to-back world champions South Africa in Cape Town on 28 June. Baa-Baas head coach Robbie Deans says his squad will feature a "blend of high-profile global international stars, and other standout performers from European clubs, Super Rugby and the Japanese league". "Peter and Conor have been an integral part of the Irish team for nearly 15 years and both have amassed over hundred caps for their country and represented the British & Irish Lions on a number of tours," said Deans. "Sam is also a Test centurion, played in the last three Rugby World Cups and captained the All Blacks from 2020-2023."All three players experience and leadership qualities will be invaluable during the week both on and off the field and I am delighted they have agreed to play for the Barbarians in this historic game." Old foes O'Mahony and Cane to play together O'Mahony and Cane are poised to line out in the same back row after the pair were involved in a verbal spat during Ireland's win over the All Blacks in Dunedin in happened as tempers flared after O'Mahony helped hold the ball up over the line to deny the All Blacks a late try and help Ireland secure their first ever win in New Zealand. Cane later shrugged off the altercation, saying: "No, it's just good rugby banter, it's all part of the game." I don't mind it. It's good stuff."Cane went on to inspire New Zealand to a World Cup quarter-final win over Ireland in Paris in 2023, but insisted he did not use his history with O'Mahony as extra motivation."We know they've got a few players who like to try to get under your skin," he said."We went into the game knowing they'd be like that but we were really focused on just sticking to our jobs."
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Having survived, Munster now planning to thrive as URC playoff picture becomes clearer
All's well that ends well, for now anyway. Everyone involved in Munster and their 8,800 supporters in a capacity crowd at Musgrave Park on Friday night could exhale in unified relief after the nervy 30-21 win over Benetton earned them a place in the URC playoffs and, perhaps more importantly, next season's Champions Cup . Having survived, now they hope to thrive. The other immediate spin-offs were that Peter O'Mahony and Stephen Archer, as well as Conor Murray , could sign off their Munster careers at home with a win and then conduct on-field post-match interviews before An Taoiseach Micheál Martin could visit a winning dressingroom. 'It means everything,' said interim head coach Ian Costello. 'We had Micheál Martin in to congratulate the lads and that was a cool boost. Peter asked him to fix the road again, he's not letting that one go! Benetton had looked the slicker, more dangerous side in the first half, and led 14-10 at half-time. But Munster regrouped during the interval, upped their physicality in the collisions, played in the right areas of the field and got their lineout maul rumbling. A catch-and-drive try was followed by a long-range finish by Thaakir Abrahams, providing some badly needed X-factor, and an emotional standing ovation for O'Mahony. Munster then responded in kind to Benetton's maul try with a second of their own on a tense, balmy night in Cork. 'I don't know how to sum it up properly,' admitted Costello, 'but when you get a balance of having such a deep purpose, so much care for each other and you go out in the second half and you can execute … it's such an incredible blend. 'The performances the last couple of weeks were about showing how much we care for each other, how much we care for the lads who are leaving. 'I think in any sport that's important, particularly rugby that is so physical. When you want to give every ounce of yourself to respect your team-mate who has given everything for the club for so long … that's deep, that connection and deep purpose was huge for us the last few weeks. 'When you see it come together in the second half, it's a powerful blend.' Munster's Peter O'Mahony waves to fans after the game. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Results elsewhere on Friday resolved the make-up of the top eight, with Edinburgh's 47-17 win over Ulster at Hive Stadium securing a place in the playoffs and next season's Champions Cup, with the Scarlets joining them thanks to Cardiff's 34-24 loss against the Stormers in Cape Town. Munster sit sixth, and as things stood overnight would be on course to face Glasgow away the weekend after next in a repeat of their quarter-final en route to winning the URC title two seasons ago. If the Scarlets win against the Sharks in Durban (kick-off 6.30pm) the Welsh side could overtake Munster and leave them facing the Bulls in the quarter-finals. However, if the Sharks win and Leinster beat Glasgow, Munster would stay sixth and face a trip to Durban in a fortnight. Leinster are guaranteed top seeding and as things stood overnight were in line to host the Scarlets in the quarter-finals. But if the Welsh region earn even a bonus point against the Sharks, they would move above Edinburgh by dint of having won more matches, and in that scenario Leinster would be at home to the Scottish region. Munster are just glad to be there. Costello admitted that the over-riding emotion was 'definitely a lot of relief' and added 'that's what real pressure looks like. 'We knew we needed to win, we also knew a draw could be no good; three points wouldn't be enough. I suppose you're trying to focus on the flow of momentum in the game and that's what changed. There was positive on top of positive moments, and we wrestled back momentum. 'Mike [Prendergast] talked at half-time about collisions, and being a bit bigger to get back and punch on to the ball, and that made a big difference. We turned them a bit more and that was one of the key conversations at half-time, to turn them, and we mixed up our short kicking game, and our lineout maul was outstanding tonight. 'When you need to wrestle momentum back, our forwards were outstanding, and Codders [forwards coach Alex Codling] has done an unbelievable job this week. They've been under a little bit of scrutiny, but it was fantastic tonight. John Hodnett celebrates with Jack Crowley after the final whistle. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho More than any team in the playoffs, Munster have been in knock-out mode for the last fortnight and can draw on plotting an away route all the way to the title two seasons ago. So when he was asked what Munster could achieve now that the pressure of qualifying for the Champions Cup had been removed, Costello answered: 'Anything.' He has never stopped believing and returned to a familiar theme when stressing: 'We've got a healthy squad and a competitive squad and we said it throughout the whole season: when we're close to full strength, we feel we can go toe to toe with any team, whether it's at home or on the road. 'We're going to enjoy a few days … I won't lie, we need to take a breather and come down after it, and then have 10 to 12 days to build up to a quarter-final wherever it might be. Jack Crowley had been wincing from before half-time with a rib injury and ultimately passed over the kicking duties to Craig Casey, but the fortnight respite ought to be helpful, and likewise for Niall Scannell after being removed for an HIA and not returning. 'He's good,' Costello said of Crowley. 'He injured his ribs, so it's a question of managing pain. What a warrior tonight. He was outstanding, and even when we were taking him off he still wanted to stay on. 'Credit to him, and he was complemented by Craig Casey who took over some of the kicking duties. Those two are so important to the team on and off the pitch. 'I just thought from a quality point of view tonight they were excellent.'
