The Offload: Peter O’Mahony apologises for Garryowen remarks

Peter O’Mahony issues Garryowen apology

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony has apologised to Garryowen for remarks made about the club in a video message originally sent to UL Bohemian Under-15 team ahead of a North Munster final between the clubs.

In a letter seen by the Irish Times, Audrey Coffey, chairperson of underage rugby in Garryowen, wrote to the players and parents in response to the upset caused and to outline the concern of club officials with regard to the tone and content of a video message in which O’Mahony offered his support for UL Bohs.

She explained that O’Mahony had subsequently contacted the president of Garryowen RFC in which he expressed his “sincere remorse and apologies for the video.” She also confirmed that O’Mahony had made a second video to be shown to the parents and players in which he apologised. Furthermore he had also undertaken to write to the club and to meet the Garryowen Under-15 team in person at some point.

UL Bohemians contacted Garryowen and apologised for the video. Coffey went on to say “that we hope these actions by Peter as an apology will bring the matter to a conclusion.”

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Number of the week

59 - A rough estimate on the combined number of players that were ruled out of Munster's Champions Cup match against Wasps in Coventry. The English club lost a further seven players on the morning of the match due to Covid-19 issues to go with 18 that were previously unavailable through injury.

Quote of the week

"The bottom line is that we have a lot of lads out there who have been banging on the door of the starting team without being considered to be our starters. They have been performing really well and I thought they were magnificent." Ulster head coach Dan McFarland points to the squad depth as a factor in their 29-23 win over Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

More refereeing controversy

Another weekend, another example of the vagaries of match officiating in an incident that led to a shoulder/arm injury sustained by Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune during his side’s brilliant 29-23 victory over Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

Baloucoune was inverted with his feet travelling well past the horizontal of hip height and driven back into the ground in a double tackle. Clermont secondrow Jacobus van Tonder received a yellow card from referee Wayne Barnes as the primary transgressor.

I have huge respect for Barnes as a referee but cannot fathom how van Tonder’s actions didn’t merit a red card. How did Barnes and television match official Tom Foley come to the conclusion that it only merited a yellow card?

Player safety is supposed to be of paramount importance but there are too many examples of the principle and the practical diverging in real terms when it comes to the match environment. Baloucoune was picked up and thrown into the ground with force. Outcome not intent should be the sole consideration.

It doesn’t matter what van Tonder intended through his actions. It was a reckless and dangerous act. He lifted a player off his feet and from that instant he is responsible for the outcome. Even if Baloucoune wasn’t injured it is still a red card. There has to be consistency in the manner in which incidents of this ilk are interpreted by match officials.

It took a tiny bit of gloss off what was otherwise a brilliant Ulster performance with centre James Hume outstanding. John Cooney, Stuart McCloskey Ethan McIlroy and Michael Lowry were also brilliant in taking the game to Clermont with ball in hand but it was Hume’s attacking prowess that caused so many problems for the home side.

He has reacted to the disappointment of missing out on game time with Ireland in the Autumn Nations series with a series of excellent displays, something that Irish head coach Andy Farrell will appreciate. It’s exactly the reaction for which he would have hoped.

Cormac Daly’s hot-streak continues

Free-scoring Clontarf secondrow Cormac Daly claimed a fourth try in the last two Energia All Ireland League Division 1A following on from a hat-trick against Dublin University with another against Garryowen at the weekend.

The six foot, six inch, former Ireland Under-20 international enjoyed a short-term loan deal as cover with Connacht last season, having previously trained with the senior panel. It will be interesting to see if any of the provinces might be tempted to have another look at the 23-year-old lock, a fine athlete, quick and mobile in the light of his recent form.

Connacht have injury issues in that position in the absence of long term injury victim Gavin Thornbury, while Ultan Dillane and Leva Fifita missed the superb 36-9 win over Stade Francais at a blustery Sportsground.

The excellent performances of Oisin Dowling, Niall Murray and flanker Cian Prendergast deserve huge praise in the face of a significant physical challenge posed by Stade Francais.

If Daly can maintain that form in the AIL he may find one or two suitors in terms of securing a full-time professional contract in the future.