'I don’t like the way he’s been treated as of late' - Alan Quinlan

Former Munster and Ireland backrow Alan Quinlan has weighed in on the debate surrounding a perceived lack of respect being shown to club legend Peter O’Mahony.

Talking on the Irish sports radio show ‘Off The Ball’, Quinlan said he felt his former teammate deserved better.

“I don’t like the way Peter O’Mahony’s being treated at the moment in the sense of being taken off early in matches.

“He doesn’t look happy, it looks premeditated, and I don’t think it’s the right decision.

“We spoke about the impact of Munster’s bench. It’s been really good, but he’s coming off after 45 minutes – it was done to me at the end of my. He’s 34; he’s being treated like a pensioner. I think he deserves a little bit more respect than that.

“Maybe the Munster coaches wouldn’t be happy with me, but it’s the way I feel. It doesn’t look right to me.

“Particularly last week’s one, he looked frustrated and angry, and I think he still has a huge amount to offer.

“He’s not a dynamic – 15 carries a game back-rower – he never was, but his influence around the breakdown, his presence, aggression, physicality, lineout work is important.

“I feel, as a player, you’re half thinking I’m coming off. It doesn’t look great.

“Maybe they’re right, maybe they’re vindicated. It was their 10th win at the weekend. It’ll heat up against Glasgow at the weekend, there’ll be spice to that one”

Circling back to O’Mahony’s contract negotiations with Munster earlier in the season, Quinlan feels that a reported reluctance from the club’s side to get a deal done did not go down well with the former club captain.

“It was handled poorly.

“We heard rumours about Graham Rowntree and Peter O’Mahony not seeing eye to eye and a clash going on there.

“I don’t like the way he’s been treated as of late.

“Generally, that was out there – whether it’s true or not, maybe Graham Rowntree or Peter O’Mahony would clarify that… I’m not breaking any trust saying that, they’re the rumours and I’m sure they’re aware of it.

“All of that stuff adds to it.

“I remember in my last couple of seasons being angry at times; you must remember as a player that loyalty and all that stuff comes into it; you feel that you should be looked after, but it is a ruthless business.” Quinlan concluded.

O’Mahony and Munster will face the Glasgow Warriors in tonight’s BKT URC semi-final at Thomond Park.