Cormac Izuchukwu reflected on the rapid progress of recent months that culminated in a history-making afternoon against Fiji yesterday.
The Ulster flanker was denied a debut Test try at the Aviva Stadium due to Mack Hansen’s forward pass. But it remained a memorable occasion for the 24-year-old from Tullamore, who became the first person from Offaly to play at Test level for Ireland.
Afterwards he was asked whether Peter Bracken had preceded him. The answer was a firm no.
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“That’s really special,” Izuchukwu remarked.
“Everyone in Tullamore has been so good to me because I’m never home that much. They’re always reaching out to me with phone calls.
“I was back there during the week and met a load of family and friends. It was special for me to see that they’re really excited for me that I was going to be playing.”
A large contingent of friends and relatives attended the match, eports the Irish Mirror.
“Trying to catch them all was impossible,” Izuchukwu said with a grin.
“I got around as much as I could.
“It was really special because they saw the start of the journey when I was going over to Scotland and stuff.
“Obviously the second I left, I’ve not been home much but they’ve always supported me and it’s really special.”
‘Izzy’ acknowledged the need for patience on his path to the top, having played with Ireland’s Sevens and striving for recognition.
If he hadn’t persevered, he might have been with Tullamore’s footballers at Parnell Park on Saturday night, competing against Cuala in the Leinster club SFC semi-final.
“You can’t think too much about what could have been,” he reflected. “I’ve been at lots of clubs, Newcastle, with the Sevens, different places.
“You never know what can happen. It’s class, but I’m happy to be here and over the moon.
“It’s been a long year. Change at Ulster, various camps with Ireland, combined academies, end of summer South Africa and now into this camp.
“It’s been class and this week in particular was really special. I’ve been blown away by how much the lads really got around me and made it special.”
He credits his ascent to Richie Murphy’s influence at Ulster, giving him the opportunity he needed.
“I got my shot to play three or four games in a row which gave me the feel of it because I was out for the year with that ACL. That was still hanging over me,” he explained.
“That run of games was what I needed to kick on and get the confidence. You can look at yourself in the mirror and think, maybe, ‘I’m alright, I’m up for it’.”
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