John Cooney stands up for Ulster

Ulster 35 Ospreys 17: So after a season where more headlines were made off the pitch rather than on it, Ulster, the 1999 Heineken Cup kingpins and forerunners of Ireland’s glorious history in the competition, will still have a place at the top table of European rugby next season.

Helped by two cracking tries from late call-up Craig Gilroy, and two more from Kieran Treadwell and arch poacher Jacob Stockdale, they could also rely on the steady boot of their player of the season, John Cooney.

It appeared it wasn’t going to happen for Ulster before the start of this PRO14 Champions Cup play-off against Ospreys yesterday in Belfast after both full-back Charles Piutau (Achilles) and tight-head Ross Kane (back spasm) peeled off from the warm-up down the tunnel before kick-off.