Ulster star John Cooney finally finds spiritual home

You don't often hear rugby players naming their favourite poem during their pre-match press conferences.

Unless, of course, 'massive challenge’ and ‘hugely exciting’ are two lesser knows verses.

Step forward John Cooney.

The Dubliner, just turned 32, has found his spiritual home.

Cooney spent four years with his native province, with one of his 27 appearances coming in the 2012 Heineken Cup final win over Ulster.

Finding it hard to get more game time, with established Ireland internationals Eoin Reddan and Isaac Boss ahead in the queue, Cooney, first in a loan spell and then permanently, played 40 games for Connacht between 2014 and 2017 but injury and form of the incumbent never allowed him to usurp Kieran Marmion.

When Ulster, then under Les Kiss, came calling, Cooney said it was "the right time for a fresh challenge".

With Ravenhill favourite Ruan Pienaar having departed, in controversial circumstances due to an IRFU policy decision, Cooney had big boots to fill.

Winning three separate player of the year awards in his debut season showed that Cooney had the ability to fill those boots.

He was also named on the Pro14 Dream Team three times.

John Cooney, on his 100th appearance for @UlsterRugby, leads the hosts out #RTERugby #ulsvmun pic.twitter.com/0Z7ibsaIBT

Last Friday, soon after leading Ulster out on the occasion of his 100th cap, he had crossed for their first try and set them on their way to a comprehensive victory over Munster; he outshone both opposition scrum-halves Conor Murray and Craig Casey in the process.

"As a young player it definitely would have been one of my goals to get 100 caps and I'm glad it has been here, everything in my head when I was 18 would have been slightly different," said Cooney, who lines up for