NEW MUNSTER CAPTAIN Peter O’Mahony is hopeful that the ‘bitterness’ of Heineken Cup semi-final defeat can be channeled into further progress in the southern province.
The two-time European champions fell at the second last hurdle last season when they traveled away to, competition favourites, Clermont.
Having been raised on a diet of near misses which eventually led to tangible success, O’Mahony is keen to set the bar no lower than silverware in his first season leading the side.
“That’s where we set our standard,” O’Mahony told TheScore.ie today. “We didn’t go into the Clermont game, saying, ‘great, we’ve made the semi-final.’
“We want to win. Win the final, win Heineken Cups and we want to win Rabos.”
Whereas most of his peers standing on the steps of Belfast’s Titanic Centre at today’s RaboDirect Pro12 launch tread cautiously in terms of setting goals, O’Mahony is bullish about the standard required at Thomond Park.
“We don’t make any bones about it: Munster want to win silverware every year. That’s our goal; to be winning silverware at the end of the season. We’re not going to beat around the bush about that.”
The international back row will have just turned 24 when he takes his tenure as captain onto the field. Despite his relative youth, O’Mahony is acutely aware of the burden of history at Munster. That’s why he was given the job.
“It comes with the tradition of the club a small bit. You don’t accept second best,”O’Mahony adds.
“That semi-final [away to Clermont] broke our hearts, hurt us a lot. But they’re the type of things that the young lads went through in 2001, 2002. Losing those finals stood to them when it came to 2008. It gives you a bit of bitterness, a bit of drive to do better every year.
“They were huge experiences for us last year, throughout the season guys would have picked up a huge amount of experience. The late stage of the Heineken Cup, that’ll stand to us in a year or two.”
The sooner the better, as far as the new skipper is concerned.
I would like to see all Irish Teams do well in the Heineken Cup. There is enough competition out there so we should not slag each other.
brian sure there’s no fun in that!
I’m sh!tsick of Munster-Leinster abuse. Rednecks? ladyboys? Thats absolutely hilarious lads.
Why can’t we all just get along. We are the worrrrld. We are the childreeeen. I have a lot of feelings this evening.
Laughing my ass off good man Rory
When Munster go out of the Heineken Cup I always support whatever Irish teams that are left in the competition. True rugby fans should always want an Irish team to do well even if its Leinster
Bullsh#t! Leinster are munster rivals!
in club competitions if Munster are gone, then sorry, I will not shout for Leinster or ulster!!!! and I make no qualms about it!! it’s like if your from London and if Spurs lose in the FA cup them you’ll start shouting for Arsenal!!!
get real people!!! ……….Connacht will always be the exception to the rule!!!!
I live in London and support Arsenal haha. Fair enough if you don’t support the other 2 provinces I’m talking more about the over and back between Munster and Leinster fans,gets a bit old
Totally agree with you Tomás. Will always shout for Leinster or Ulster, or Connacht if Munster aren’t involved in a match.
My wife is a huge Leinster fan, and we keep the slagging fairly civil.
Actually I would count the English, Welsh, French, Scottish and Italian teams as rivals. I always support irish teams if they’re not playing leinster, inter provincial rivalry should be friendly.
To the brave and the faithful
I love rugby and am from Munster! Does it mean I’d love to see ulster and Leinster been beat if Munster are gone? No it doesn’t! Rugby is not soccer! Both those provinces are Irish and have a huge contingent of Irish players! I can’t speak for the “die hard” rugby fan tho
Yeah when Leinster are out I’ll cheer for Munster next, as much as I slag them for banter sake they have what i like in rugby more so than ulster.
Munster just don,t have the team this year to compete for top honours. Leinster will fly the Irish flag in Europe . They are the standard setters on this island by a mile. No bitterness please.
Lol – obviously another Lonster goy who started following rugby in 2009!
Yes a full 6 years after the munster men jumpef aboard their bandwagon
Leinster = finished.
Don,t you just love it when the country lads get all hot and red with rage about the neck. What did the Munster captain ask .NO BITTERNESS
no bitterness Owen, when it comes to Munster, we do thing first like H-cup, All Blacks, Australia….., oh wait, for Leinster I suppose 2 out 3 ain’t bad!!!!
had to red meself!!!!!
1 out of 3!!!
iam such a langer
Its getting close to the silly season and deluded munster fans think their team can win the Heineken cup .. why can they admit that their just rubbish and stop lying about supporting the other irish teams
The country boys? More than just Dublin in Leinster
Not bitter at all Owen, but I’m pretty sure you’re wrong, and don’t be surprised if you’re eating your words by Christmas time, let alone the end of the season. Leinster weren’t even on the map in the Heineken last year, and this year you’ve lost Nacewa, Sexton, O’ Malley… and Darcy and O’ Driscoll are a year older… I support all irish teams, but always primarily Munster.
If I were a Leinster man, I wouldn’t be throwing stones.
Pat, Ulster were the first Irish Provence to win the H. Cup.
We won it first time,we won if first time
Oh Munster are crap and we won it first time.
One of my favourite Leinster songs
Wrong -lt was called the European cup and there were no English teams involved!
The sooner they are out of the heineken cup the better. Listening to the rugby goys in the pub talk absolute shite about a game they didnt even know the rules to a few years ago would drive you demented. Hopefully they’ll be jumping off the bandwagon soon!!!!
You’re right Elrat, I forgot it was called the European cup when Ulster won.
We came a lot closer than any other Irish team last season, who’s to say we won’t again?
I know Jason, those know it all Langers down South are tedious. Just as bad as their eastern cousins…
gary, Munster wee the first irsh team, both north and south to win the Heineken cup!!!
Not a chance of Munster winning the Heineken cup. Third best team in ireland
@ Martin. FYI two Irish teams contested the final rounds of the premium European comp. can’t you even name them? Leinster are a 5 year blip.
A 5 year blip ha ha that’s a good one. 3 time champions in 4 years that’s the best ever record in the HC,
I’d guess that would make that Leinster team the best in the competitions history.
Phil straight up are you boys out of transition this year or will there be no excuses as there has been for the past 5 years
Rugby isn’t soccer. The focus should be Irish rugby. When / if Leinster get the boot from Europe I’ll support ulster / munster / Connacht
Bitterness and munster in the same heading !!!
20/1 to win the Heineken Cup looks good to me.
… http://www.paddypower.com/bet/rugby-union/heineken-cup?ev_oc_grp_ids=1687 <
There all irish
Tell that to the Leinster ‘fans’ that think Leinster ends at Newlands cross!
Like I said, when Munster are out. I don’t want them to win it if Munster are still in the cup
For Pat, we can have that when we meet each other in whatever competition.