All In by Peter O’Mahony and Zeebs by Simon Zebo: An authentic account of a life in rugby, and a dose of cheery insouciance
The Irish Times · John O’Donnell ·
O’Mahony’s dark sense of humour is surely inherited from his grandmother, while Zebo’s swashbuckling exuberance comes through in this account of an illustrious career
Rebellious and defiant, Peter O’Mahony shouted at referees and abused his Cork Con team-mates for not trying – aged nine. He must have been a nightmare on the pitch. Off the pitch also: door-slamming and stomping around at home was once part of the recommended Munster way of getting revved up before a Champions’ Cup game.
The transition from the savagery of that old-school Thomond Park dressing-room to the (somewhat) more civilised contemporary pre-match routines is just one fascinating aspect of O’Mahony’s engrossing and enlightening book.
Forthright and sweary (Fanning captures his tone perfectly), O’Mahony is nonetheless a bag of nerves before every team announcement, every kick-off. His cranky vulnerability is intriguing. O’Mahony admits his temper, and intolerance of those who didn’t measure up, were unacceptable, though he does change, thanks to a warning from Jerry Holland and advice from sports psychologist Caroline Currid.
Read the full story at The Irish Times · All coverage of this story