Rugby World Cup 2023: New Zealand defeat the 'end of an era' for Irish rugby - Peter O'Mahony

Peter O’Mahony has said Ireland’s heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final exit to New Zealand signalled the “end of an era” of rugby for the Emerald Isle nation.

Johnny Sexton announced in advance of the tournament that this would be the last time he would feature for his country, while head coach Andy Farrell confirmed Keith Earls had also decided to call time on his career after Ireland lost 28-24 to New Zealand in a last-eight showdown for the ages in Paris.

Ireland came into the contest against the All Blacks as the world’s top-ranked side and on the back of a 17-match winning run that began with a first ever Test series victory in New Zealand last year.

They were viewed by many as the favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, but in the end, they succumbed to an eighth consecutive quarter-final loss in rugby’s showpiece event.

It sparked emotional scenes at the end of a fierce encounter between two juggernauts of the sport, as Sexton in particular cut a dejected figure.

“It's tough to lose these guys in these tough circumstances,” O’Mahony said. “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.”

O’Mahony was one of many in the Irish camp over the age of 30, and he also admitted his own future was uncertain after earning his 101st cap for his country.

Whatever happens, though, the 34-year-old is “proud” at what this generation of players have been able to accomplish and insisted the future of Irish rugby is in safe hands.

“Will I come back? We'll see,” he added. “It's a 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.

“There's a great group of young players there. 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.”

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