John Cooney's career has been characterised by being late to the party.
The scrum-half had to wait until he was 27 to get Ireland recognition, playing against Japan in 2017. By that stage, he had done the rounds for seven years as a provincial fringe player with Leinster (his home province) and Connacht.
It was Ulster who gave him a shot as first choice the same year. But even when applying for that career-reviving opportunity in Ravenhill (following Ulster's decision to cut loose Springbok icon Ruan Pienaar) lateness was part of the narrative.
Scrum-half John Cooney's rugby career has been characterised by being late to the party
He had to wait until he was 27 to get Ireland recognition, playing against Japan in 2017
'When I went to meet the Ulster management, I got a flat tyre on my drive up and I was around four hours late,' recalls Cooney.
'I couldn't believe it, I looked up and saw the petrol station so I was able to get there. Then went to change it, I didn't know how to change it. My best friend picked me up and drove me to Belfast so I could meet Les (former Ulster coach Les Kiss).
'I was four hours later but I think he [Kiss] was pretty happy that I still got there. I was like, "I wanted to make sure I came to meet you". The next day, they offered me a contract so I was thinking, "This worked out well".'
That is an understatement. Cooney has been sensational for Ulster - the province's best player during a 2017-18 season that brought unprecedented challenges on and off the pitch. His inspirational performances, including world-class goal-kicking, have blown away the doubts that had surrounded his low-key signing as replacement for Pienaar.
During his difficult stints with Leinster and Connacht, when injuries were as big an issue as the quality of competition, he visited a psychologist in Galway and his mental strength has been a hugely significant factor in his career taking off in his late 20s.
Cooney is looking to get his seventh cap for Ireland in the Six Nations match against Italy
'People were disappointed to lose Ruan and they mightn't know much about me, but I got to work quickly up there. I knew hard work and putting it all on the field would make them warm to me.
'When I started, I wasn't even a frontline goal-kicker but they didn't really have a goal-kicker and I end up getting to kick for them. Everything ended up working out pretty well.
'The coaching staff were brilliant. Johnno Gibbes was there and he had coached me before (at Leinster) and he's a pretty tough character. He let me do what I wanted which gave me confidence so I've loved it. Everyone's settled in well. They're a great
