Peter O'Mahony unsure if he will play on for Ireland after World Cup exit
- Published
Small margins the difference at end of special era - O'Mahony
Veteran flanker Peter O'Mahony says he is undecided over his international future after Ireland's latest quarter-final exit at a World Cup.
Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls have already retired from Ireland duty after Saturday's heartbreaking 28-24 loss against New Zealand in Paris.
O'Mahony acknowledged that the defeat had an "end of an era" feel.
"Will I come back? We'll see," said the 34-year-old Munster man, who won his 101st cap against the All Blacks.
"It's tough one to take, as a lot of my friends won't be back so I've a contract to the end of the year and we'll see how we go after that."
O'Mahony was one of 17 members of his country's 33-man squad aged 30 or over but he insisted that Irish rugby still has a healthy future given the young talent available to coach Andy Farrell.
"There's a great group of young players there," added the British and Irish Lions player.
"Lots of players who aren't here but who were in our squad can step up to the plate as well. I've no doubt this team will have left Irish rugby in a better place.
"We've achieved a huge amount - there's no other way of putting it.
"There's disappointment, obviously, but I think we can be proud of where we've left the jersey."
O'Mahony (right) and Ireland team-mate Finlay Bealham after Ireland's defeat by New Zealand
An historic Test series victory in New Zealand last year had helped Ireland go into the tournament as the globe's top-ranked team but after hopes soared following a pool win over world champions South Africa, the Irish fell at the quarter-finals stage for the eighth time in 10 World Cups.
Asked about the departures of skipper Sexton and his Munster colleague Earls, O'Mahony replied: "It's tough to lose these guys in these tough circumstances. I've spent a lot of time with himself [Earls] and Johnny obviously.
"Probably every one of my caps had one or two of them in it, if not all of them. It's tough to lose fellas like that - big characters, big players for us.
"It is the end of an era. You've a group of senior players who are moving on. There's no other way of putting it.
"There's a group of guys who won't play for Ireland again who've had an incredible impact on Irish rugby."