John Cooney is often seen as one of the more introspective players in Irish rugby. He is satisfied with his achievements in the sport and has learned not to focus on what he hasn’t accomplished. Cooney’s popularity at Ulster is partly due to his openness when speaking to the media, a trait not commonly shared by his peers.
Cooney has been candid about his feelings, admitting he was “quite bitter” about losing his place in the Ireland squad. He also recently spoke about questioning his own abilities after Ulster’s defeat by the Sharks in March. Despite numerous setbacks in his career, which could have broken him, Cooney chose to persevere.
“My superpower is my energy and ability to keep going,” Even during challenging times, Cooney managed to avoid “falling back into the wilderness” after the Sharks game. Instead, he found a way out, which benefited both him and Ulster. His late penalty secured Ulster’s 23-21 win over Leinster and a spot in the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
Cooney and several teammates have looked revitalized in recent weeks. With Richie Murphy now as the permanent head coach, Ulster has seen improved results, winning four consecutive games before narrowly losing to Munster. Their reward for making the play-offs is another match against Leinster, whom they have beaten both home and away this season. However, they will face a Leinster team motivated by a recent Champions Cup final defeat.
Facing Leinster brings mixed feelings for Cooney. Despite his family ties to Scotland, Connacht, and Ulster, he grew up in Dublin and started his career at Leinster. After his career stalled, he moved to Connacht, helping them win the Pro12 title in 2015-16. Cooney sees similarities between that Connacht team and the current Ulster squad.
“I had a feeling last week that maybe this is us going on our run,” said Cooney, who is second on Ulster’s all-time points list with 1,116. He recalls a similar feeling in 2022 when Ulster narrowly lost to the Stormers, believing they should have won that year.
For Ulster to keep their URC dream alive, they must perform well against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, a venue where they previously lost 30-15 in a Champions Cup last-16 match. Despite the intimidating atmosphere, Cooney insists Ulster are not afraid.
“We’ve definitely gained confidence from the past couple of years,” said Cooney. “Everything’s in their court. It’s theirs to lose really. I know they’re gunning for us, gunning for me, but it is what it is. I’m going to go out and try my best.”
Cooney emphasizes that Ulster has learned from last year’s play-offs, where they unexpectedly lost their home quarter-final to Connacht. This time, they approach the game with nothing to lose, putting the pressure on Leinster. “We’re the Connacht going to Leinster. They’re the ones under a bit of pressure at the moment,” he said.
