County Derry Post

It might not have brought the result he wanted, but in terms of experience Drumsurn’s budding Ulster rugby fly-half Niall O’Connor says that in his Heineken Cup debut was everything he had hoped for and more.

In caretaker Steve Williams’ last game in charge, the changes were rung and the former Limavady Grammar School pupil 10 was one of those to benefit as he grabbed a start in front of a packed Ravenhill against the Neath – Swansea Ospreys on Friday night.

And he grabbed three early points to cap a personal milestone that he hopes is the first of many European nights in the white jersey.

“It was brilliant, it was everything I had hoped it would be and more.  I always wanted to play in the Heineken Cup and to do it in front of a packed house at Ravenhill was fantastic.  The result wasn’t what we wanted but the Ospreys are one of the strongest teams in the tournament and the performance was certainly better than the last game.”

“I found out I’d be starting when the manager announced the side on Tuesday morning.  I don’t usually get nervous before games but it was different this week.”

  His early penalty was one of just two scores for the Ravenhill outfit as they slipped to a 16-8 defeat, albeit in a much improved performance where they were hampered by two yellow cards in the second half.  The side’s next game is against Leinster in a Magners League clash on Boxing Day and the former Drumsurn Gaelic footballer says that retaining his place is the aim, though he admits it won’t be easy.  “Definitely I’ll be looking to keep my place but I’ll just have to wait and see when the team’s announced.  David Humphreys, I think is nearly fit and Paddy Wallace is there as well so I’ll just have to see how it goes.”  

And by the time that game comes around, the likelihood is that there will be a new coach in charge after the resignation last month of Mark McCall, with interim boss Williams’ time now looking at an end and the young stand-off reckoning that the next week will see a new man at the helm.

  “Something is going to happen soon but we know very little, everything’s very hush-hush.  I’d expect something to be sorted in the next week or so.  “A new manager is difficult for some players but it’s a chance for others, everyone has to go out and impress.  Everyone has a clean slate to work off so it’s certainly a chance,” he said.