Peter O’Mahony Becomes Latest Ireland Centurion

6th October 2023 By The Editor

Peter O'Mahony celebrates last month's win over South Africa. Inpho

Peter O’Mahony became the 10th player to reach the 100-cap landmark for Ireland against Scotland on Saturday night, joining a select group that also includes Conor Murray, Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara (128 caps), Paul O’Connell (108 caps) and John Hayes (105 caps).

A Cork Constitution clubman and former PBC student, O’Mahony was a Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup winner with PBC in 2007 and joined the Munster Academy in 2008.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Munster Rugby (@munsterrugby)

He captained the Ireland U20s in the 2009 6 Nations and Junior World Championship in Japan and made his senior debut for Munster at the age of 20 against Ulster in January 2010.

He won his first silverware as an adult player later that year, helping Cork Constitution to an AIL League and Cup double before captaining Munster A to the final of the inaugural British and Irish Cup.

Celebrating a win for the Ireland U20s in 2009.

O’Mahony first captained Munster in a competitive game on September 3, 2011 at the age of 21. It was just his 12th appearance for the province and he led the side for the opening five games of the season.

He was Player of the Match on his European debut against Northampton Saints in 2011 as Ronan O’Gara kicked a last-minute drop-goal for a famous win at Thomond Park and won the province’s Young Player of the Year award that season.

His fine club form saw O’Mahony earn his first Ireland cap against Italy almost 12 years ago in February 2012 and he played in all three Tests of the June tour to New Zealand.

In action for Cork Con in 2010.

He captained Ireland for the first time at the age of 23 on the 2013 summer tour of North America and took over the Munster captaincy after the departure of Doug Howlett ahead of the 2013/14 season.

He won his first 6 Nations title with Ireland in 2014 and started every game of their successful title defence in 2015.

O’Mahony went to his first World Cup in 2015, excelling in the victories over Italy and France but sustained a knee injury against the French and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

After earning selection on his first British and Irish Lions tour in 2017, he captained the side to victory over the Maori All Blacks and was awarded the captain’s armband for the opening Test against the All Blacks.

He helped Ireland to the 2018 Grand Slam title before captaining the national side to a Summer Series win over Australia.

Leading the Lions in 2017.

Named Man of the Match in Ireland’s win over New Zealand in November 2018, he also played every minute of the 2019 6 Nations campaign.

He won Munster’s Player of the Year award for the first time in 2019 and was also included in the Guinness PRO14 Dream Team.

In 2019 he also travelled to his second World Cup and featured in all five games.

O’Mahony made his 150th Munster appearance against Connacht in October 2021 and helped Ireland to a Triple Crown in 2022 before featuring in Ireland’s first-ever Series victory away to New Zealand that summer.

He enjoyed an outstanding 2022/23 season, winning his second Grand Slam with Ireland and captaining Munster to the URC title.