The inspiration for Ireland's first-half romp? Peter O'Mahony

SALUTE: Ireland's Peter O'Mahony celebrates in the Stade de France. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho

Whether it was tending to Cork Con’s match balls as a kid out at Temple Hill or being ever-present in the Ireland team room, fostering squad camaraderie, Peter O’Mahony has given his all to the cause with unstinting consistency.

At Stade de France on Saturday, his commitment to his team-mates was repaid with an outstanding Irish performance delivered both in tribute to the 100-cap hero and in his own image.

Ireland blew Scotland away inside 40 minutes through a combination of attacking flair, resolute defence, and snarling intensity, romping into a 26-0 half-time lead, the try bonus point already secured en route to a World Cup Pool B-topping 36-14 victory. 

And it was all for O’Mahony.

The squad had talked all week in the build up to this Celtic showdown about how best to mark the back-rower’s 100th Ireland appearance in a match of pivotal importance for their ambitions at this tournament and the obvious conclusion was to reward one of their talismen with the victory that would send them all into the following weekend’s quarter-finals.

The 34-year-old Munster captain kept his side of the bargain, contributing hugely to the win, his two lineout steals helping to break Scottish spirits as they chased the game and worked their way into try-scoring opportunities, his controlled aggression getting under blue-cladded opposition skin.

And his team-mates followed, shining under the self-inflicted pressure to deliver for O’Mahony, the man they have nicknamed the “haggard badger”.

“You look at what Peter O’Mahony has done, I’ve known him since I was 18 coming into the Academy together, we kind of broke in at Munster around the same time,” Dave Kilcoyne said. “He’s one of my best friends and to see him get 100 caps tonight, all of his family are over, his mum and dad, John and Caroline, his brothers. I don’t find it hard to put in a performance like that for Pete.

“You see how much he gives every week for Munster, what he’s done over the years, got us through some tough times, always shows up, plays with his heart on his sleeve and probably doesn’t get enough credit for some of the stuff he does around the ruck and lineout D.

“He’s an incredible footballer, incredible rugby IQ. I saw Johnny (Sexton) said during the week, people don’t get to know the real Pete. He’s the last man to leave the team room every night, he’s down drinking tea whether it be with the young lads or begging me to come down with him.

“I christened him the badger. He’s just a great fella, and to give him that win is really important.” 

Assistant coach John Fogarty echoed Kilcoyne’s words and agreed O’Mahony’s performance was equal to the grandest of occasions at Stade de France on Saturday night.

“Pete’s funny. I played in Cork Con years and years ago. In 1999 we won an AIL and Pete used to dry the balls and he dried them really well. He’s had energy and effort in everything he’s done. Rugby’s been his life. His dad John would have brought him to Con and he lives and breathes everything. He’s not acting at all, that’s him out there.

“I think we wanted to live and breathe every moment of the game, we wanted to be a part of every moment of the game. We didn’t want to stop and feel sorry for ourselves, move on, move forward, stay competitive and these are the things Pete does and the other players represented him very, very well today. We’re very proud.” 

Fogarty referenced Ireland’s significant defensive stand as Scotland threw the kitchen sink at them for several minutes having conceded the opening try after just 63 seconds.

“It was brilliant. We spoke all week about Pete and the type of person he is and the type of player he is and how he offers so much to the people around him when he plays. So that was driving our… that was in our minds.

“In defence, you saw it in the first half where we’re getting off the ground. We’re not dying on the floor, we’re up on our feet, we’re working hard for each other. Pete was in the front of everyone’s mind, I think, in that performance.

“It was very, very pleasing that first half, how we defended and how we took our opportunities in the other half of the pitch. So yeah, it was a good day. I’m so proud for Pete and we’re all very proud that he achieved the 100th cap and the team is in a nice place moving into what’s a huge week.

“I think the team and Peter, they’re hand in hand. We all understand the type of person and player he is for the people around him. What he offers for the group, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s just someone we’re very proud of.

“To reach 100 caps and for us to give back to him in that first half defensively, in how we worked for each other was really pleasing. So we’ll take confidence from that as a group and hope to relive that as we move forward.”