Skipper failed to curtail his emotions

Dublin – Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony said captaining his country to the Six Nations title was “probably the most special” of the five he has won in a press conference that sounded as if it was his valedictory performance.

The Munster great turns 35 in September and was named skipper for the Six Nations, though, he had revealed on Friday he was yet to discuss with head coach Andy Farrell if he would retain the post.

The combative flanker was in tears prior to the kick-off as the emotion of the occasion got to him.

However, he kept them in check on the pitch to steer his side to a 17-13 win over the Scots as the Irish retained the title and emulated Joe Schmidt’s side in 2014/15.

“Unbelievably special,” said O’Mahony, who was also a member of the Schmidt title-winning sides.

“I think this is probably the most special. It was a tough week that we put down as a group.

“I said to Andy on the way in here, it was a tough week and it was probably one of the toughest days I put down to nerves beforehand.

“Chatting to a few fellas, they were in the same boat, which was nice, but it’s 100% up there with one of the most special days of my career, if not the most (special).”

O’Mahony said that even though Saturday was the 105th time he had donned the Ireland shirt the pressure had got to him as the anthems played.

Normally he belts them both out but on this occasion his head was bowed and the tears flowed freelyand his Munster team-mate Tadhg Beirne gave a consoling pat on the head.

O’Mahony had been yellow-carded in the 23-22 defeat by England last Saturday which dashed their hopes of historic back-to-back Grand Slams.

“We didn’t want to lose last week but we knew we needed to get back on the horse and put in a better performance.” –