He is the first player to play over 20 games for three different Irish provinces. Ulster describe him as a "talismanic player ... known for his sniping runs, kicking success, and ability to dictate games" whose "performances for the province have seen him consistently rank among the top points-scorers in the PRO14, now United Rugby Championship, competition."[1]
Cooney made his senior debut for Leinster on 2 September 2011, when he started against Ospreys in Swansea during the opening game of the 2011–12 Pro12.[5] He continued to make appearances for Leinster in the league, playing four more times, though each of these appearances came from the bench.[6] Most of his appearances came while Leinster's front-line players were away at the 2011 World Cup, though he also scored his first try for the team later in the season in a win over Benetton Treviso.[7] He made his European debut for the side in the final of the 2011–12 Heineken Cup, coming on as a replacement scrum-half in Leinster's 42–14 win over Irish rivals Ulster and winning a medal in the process.[8]
In the following season, he continued to feature for Leinster in the league making a total of 13 appearances in the 2012–13 Pro12, scoring try against Scarlets on 23 February 2013. Nine of these appearances came as a replacement.[6] In Europe, he did not feature in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup as Leinster were knocked out in the pool stages. He did, however, come on as a replacement in three of the team's games in the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup, including the final against Stade Français, earning himself another European medal in the process.[8]
He did not feature as regularly for Leinster in the 2013–14 season as he had the year before, finding himself behind internationals Eoin Reddan and Isaac Boss on the depth chart. He made his first appearance in the 2013–14 Pro12 against Cardiff Blues as a replacement, and went on to make a further four appearances in the league, all of these coming as starts. He scored a try against Zebre on 9 February 2014.[6] In the 2013–14 Heineken Cup, he made one appearance for the side, being used as a replacement against Northampton Saints in the pool stages.[8]
Connacht
It was announced in June 2014 that Cooney would be spending the 2014–15 season on loan at another Irish province, with both he and Leinster teammate Quinn Roux joining Connacht on loan. While Roux would return to Leinster in January 2015, Cooney agreed a deal to play with Connacht until the end of the season.[9]
Ulster
After the IRFU prevented South African international Ruan Pienaar from extending his contract, Ulster signed Cooney from Connacht as his replacement ahead of the 2017–18 season.[10] He made 25 appearances in his first season with the province, including 22 starts, and scored five tries, 37 conversions and 42 penalties, totalling 225 points. He also made 14 try assists.[11] He was named at scrum-half in the Pro14 Dream Team for the season,[12] having topped the league in points scored, try assists, penalties and passes, and come second in clean breaks.[13] In the 2018 Ulster Rugby Awards, he was named Player of the Year, Rugby Writers' Player of the Year, and Supporters' Club Player of the Year.[14]
In his second season with Ulster, he made 20 appearances, including 18 starts, and scored 142 points, including three tries, made eight try assists, and was named "man of the match" twice.[15] He was again named in the Pro14 Dream Team.[16] In the 2019–20 season he made 20 appearances including 18 starts, and scored 180 points including ten tries.[17] He was named Player of the Year at the 2020 Ulster Rugby Awards,[18] made his third straight Pro14 Dream Team.[19] and was included in the longlist of nominations for EPCR European Player of the Year,[20][21] The following season he was Supporters' Club Player of the Year,[22] after making 19 appearances and scoring 174 points, including seven tries, and making 19 try assists and 26 clean breaks.[23] He led the Pro14 in points scored with 115, try assists with 13, and clean breaks with 22,[24] and made his fourth straight Pro14 Dream Team when he was included in the 2020–21 team.[25] His season was ended in April by a neck injury sustained in the Challenge Cup semi-final against Leicester Tigers.[26] A hamstring injury sustained against Glasgow Warriors in the opening match in September 2021,[27] and a calf injury sustained against Munster in January 2022,[28] reduced his involvement in the 2021–22 season, but he made his 100th appearance for the province in the URC quarter-final victory over Munster on 3 June 2022.[29]
In December 2022 he won the inaugural URC Difference Maker award for his volunteer work with Belfast Central Mission's befriending service.[30]
He was named Ulster's supporters club player of the year for the 2023-24 season in the 2024 Ulster Rugby Awards,[31] and selected in the URC's team of the season for the fifth time.[32]
