Peter O'Mahony is central to two of the finest of the Irish sports stories from the last two decades. I know, I was there and both are connected to his psyche, who he is, as opposed to listing tries or tackles or dominant tackles or any of the myriad statistics, the modern measure.I caused the meltdown captured by TV in the immediate aftermath of Axel Foley’s death, the one where sitting at the top table and visibly overcome with tears and emotion he couldn’t continue to answer the question…But who, having let Rassie Erasmus take over, regathered himself and squeezing Erasmus’s thigh, continued…nothing gets the better of O’Mahony if he can help it.Re-centred O’Mahony talked of how this coming game against Glasgow at Thomond Park meant more, so much because of their fallen comrade…He wasn’t wrong Munster and a fevered, anticipatory capacity crowd watched as the Reds, extra fired up by a 19th minute red card for Keith Earls, smashed, battered, hammered, pasted their Scottish opposition with 14 men. There wasn't a team in the world that would have beaten Munster in Thomond Park that day.I also watched as Johnny Sexton, playing his Johnny Cool character, and a laconic Peter O'Mahony controlled a Rugby World Cup quarter-final press conference ahead of 2023 quarter-final with the All Blacks.Andy Farrell had purposely hidden the Ireland squad miles outside Paris on a lousy golf course but, it being the quarter-final, the entire UK press corps had suddenly woken up to Ireland but even they were getting bored and starting to drift off.At that point I asked had there been any thought about this weekend in Paris being the anniversary of Anthony Foley's death in 2016, a question that could easily have been hoisted to touch, answered with platitudes.Sexton looked at O’Mahony who looked back at Sexton and the wall fell, the loyalty and conviction came through.Ireland, he revealed, had gone to the management and asked could they line up across from the haka in the famed Axel 8 formation (cue reverse ferret and UK media types rushing back into the room). But then there are many, on rugby’s ladder, home and abroad, executives, on-field commanders or dog soldier who trust O'Mahony would not you down, ever, even to the grave.Former Munster boss GRAHAM ROWNTREE doesn't do much sentiment but had plenty of time for O'Mahony albeit is tricky when asked but switching Munster captaincy to Tadhg Beirne in mid-September 2024.A stop down from general to private which, in turn, coincided with a drop in Munster form losing four of their first six URC games (to Zebre, Leinster, Stormers and Sharks) and the Englishman's departure at the end of October.Says Rowntree: "Of course I'm proud of him and whether I was allowed to be or not I would be proud of him"I was involved in discussions around keeping him for the extra year. He is Munster's warrior, he is Munster's proven warrior isn't he?"Ireland got good value for that extra season too; there were seven caps, three of them Six Nations starts and four from the bench to bring his tally to 98.Most likely proof the national coach was part responsible for the 'extra' season, that O'Mahony was on the 75-strong original Lions list. The question now is whether or not he is on standby and could make some part of the Lions Tour yet:Says ANDY FARRELL: "I’ve been unbelievably a big fan of Pete all the way through his career and we’ve a close enough relationship to be honest with one another."We’ve talked about his career, certainly when it’s getting towards the end, for the last year. So we are realists as far as that’s concerned."These were 12 extra months that helped with milestones too. His third last match, against Bordeaux in the Champions Cup, pushed his on-field Munster minutes past 10,000. Wonderfully on his last appearance at Thomond Park, against Ulster, the place erupted when he scored a try."Credit to him," says GAVIN COOMBES. "I think there has been a lot of times over the last couple of years we thought we had probably seen the end of him but he always had a lot to offer."He is a big part of this group even if he is not captain and obviously a huge part of the group with Ireland. NIALL SCANNELL is considered the first of leaders to emerge from the post-Declan Kidney group of players. He famously told Paul O'Connell that the group would work better with less shouting and head-banging off doors in the dressing room. "Pete has been unbelievable and I kind of feel like any compliments you give Pete this week aren't enough because everyone's been talking about him."But he's the guy that was a couple years ahead of me in school, I was in the Academy and I've known him a long, long time. He was always a leader but maybe just didn't get enough opportunities around Ireland captaincy with Rory Best and Johnny Sexton and stuff but he was always that still talisman kind of figure there.CALVIN NASH, arriving into the Munster squad a lot later admits to have been in awe, not knowing how to act around O'Mahony."First impressions of Pete? I was absolutely terrified to be honest. It was so scary. I felt like, 'Jesus, it's Peter O'Mahony,' y'know? He obviously is such a leading presence. I actually was just petrified of him to be honest."But obviously, you get to know Pete, he gets the piss taken out of him 24/7, he's a gas man, and look, I'm obviously delighted to get to know him way more. He's a great father and a great person as well and we were lucky to have him in the Irish system."While JACK CROWLEY likes to idea the idea there is no side: "He is what you see. There is no covert side to him. He is a leader and to play alongside him for these last couple of years has been a privilege."He is someone I have huge respect for and all the group have respect for because he is himself and he leads with his actions."Up the road in Leinster, a young schoolboy ANDREW PORTER thought O'Mahony was the King of Munster, regal majestic, flawless...Until the first time he roomed with and found out about his magisterial snoring.Says Porter of O'Mahony's imminent abdication: “I suppose I was watching Pete when I was still in school and I always thought of him as King Munster, he was their talisman. "I always just admired his energy, his passion for the game, his psychological edge that he brings to his game and his teammates as well. When you have a player like that in your team, it’s you nearly feel like you’re playing with an extra man."I’ve had the privilege of playing with Pete, I just don't room with him, he is a terrible snorer but on the pitch he is that special, has that aura about him when he steps onto the field and even off the field as well, he’s a great bloke off it as well.""It's similar for JAMES RYAN who, albeit aware of the snoring, says is more anxious to avoid rooming with Bundee Aki as far as this is concerned."He's obviously a competitor, plays on the edge. I'd say he brings the best out of other guys as well. He's always done that in the team, sort of an intangible thing. He makes it feel right."But when you first met Peter O'Mahony off the pitch, he different to what you thought, he's great craic, great fun. He'd be a big personality. He'll be missed massively.The younger Leinster players simply saw him as Munster's rock but, also and more importantly, perhaps as an Ireland ally - maybe there is less baggage in the modern Red-Blue fixture."I can't stop laughing when I'm around him, he's like the heartbeat of our team," says JOE McCARTHY. "Playing in the games with him, you see the confidence that he brings to the team. I'd love him to keep going, I think everyone feels the same, he's a special, special player."RYAN BAIRD adds: "I tell him almost every matchday, before we go out and after the match that I look up to him so much, the way he can be so fun, part of the lads when he's off the pitch and then the dedication he has to the way he plays rugby, the way he leads us. "It was an absolute privilege to play with him, to be in the same position as well, I pinch myself when I get to sit down and talk with him. He's such an incredible player, more importantly person and he's got a beautiful family as well."Latterly, through URC expansion there has been more appreciation from abroad.The South Africans pride themselves on being able to spot a good back-row and O'Mahony stared the RWC2023 win over the 'Boks, the 2024 summer tour win in Pretoria but not the follow-up in Durban...which Ireland lost.JASON JENKINS played with O'Mahony at Munster (2020/21), against him at Leinster (2022-24) while, latterly, he has been a part of the Springbok squad"What an incredible player and such a good leader, the one thing that I picked up in my time at Munster and Leinster, it's just the lads respect him so much."He's the type of guy that when he speaks, everyone listens, he's got the experience and he's one of those guys that always puts his body on the line."A lot of times fans don't even know what what type of, you know, injury or niggles he's playing with. He just keeps going, he doesn't veer away from anything and that's the type of guy you want in any team.JAMISON GIBSON-PARK walks by, stops, grabs the microphone and offers: "He is a legend isn’t he. It was a privilege," before walking off again." Well said. And from here in the bleachers from all of us "Thanks for the memories." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.