RUGBY/Interview: A fractured eye socket and cheekbone provided a catalyst for change. Matt McCullough suffered the injury while playing for Ulster against Harlequins at the start of the season.John O'Sullivan talks to Matt McCullough

It denied the 21-year-old Ballymena second row the opportunity to showcase his talent in the Celtic League and arrested the momentum of an impressive underage representative career.

Two years on the Ulster Schools team, the second as captain, two years playing for Ireland Schools including that famous tour Down Under when a team captained by Gavin Duffy beat Australia on their home soil.

A date of birth that fell late in the year prevented him from claiming an Ireland under-19 jersey but that was a mere hiccup as he quickly graduated to the Ireland under-21 team, his second season at that level accompanied by the captaincy. He was also sequestered to the IRFU's Academy for elite young players.

Ulster coach Alan Solomons was aware of a burgeoning talent and a phased introduction to senior representative rugby beckoned until that injury intervened. McCullough eschewed self-pity preferring to focus on a positive legacy from the injury.

"There was a bit of a silver lining in that it allowed me to hit the gym and work on my physical conditioning. I emerged much stronger than I was and it made me step back and grow up a bit.

"I ended up with a better appreciation of how far I had to go physically and was determined to grasp the opportunities presented when I got back playing. Given the excellent form of Gary Longwell, Jeremy Davidson and Mark Blair I knew my chances for Ulster would be limited."

Ballymena was a natural outlet for his rehabilitation and he quickly established himself as an integral part of a team that on Saturday competes in the All-Ireland League Division One final against Clontarf at Lansdowne Road.

There is a special poignancy for McCullough, a young man who grew up within punting distance of Eaton Park.

The magnitude of what the club had achieved was hammered home in the aftermath of the semi-final victory over Lansdowne when a family friend thanked him for what the club had achieved and then burst into tears.

The logjam of quality at second row in a national team context - Malcolm O'Kelly, Longwell, Leo Cullen, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan and Mick O'Driscoll - would be a daunting prospect for any ambitious young player. McCullough laughs when he considers the magnitude of the task in muscling his way into that group.

That though is a long-term goal, his immediate priority in a representative capacity, manifest in his decision to recently sign a new two-year contract with Ulster is to establish himself as a representative player.

"I've a lot of work to do this summer. With Gary (Longwell) likely to be away with Ireland and Jeremy (Davidson) unfortunately having to retire, the incentive is there to try and claim a starting place.

"Alan (Solomons) has said that I will get game-time and then it is up to me to make the most of the opportunities and get a starting place on the team."

McCullough, at a just under 6ft 6ins and a couple of pounds over 16 stone, knows that he has to bulk up, although his svelte frame has its compensations.

He is very quick for a second row and that has been recognised by Ballymena coach Tony D'Arcy who has occasionally opted to start him in the back row at blindside flanker, a position he may start in on Saturday. His excellent ball skills and lineout ability is married with a voracious appetite for work and a hard edge. Given a modicum of good fortune and measured development McCullough has the ability to graduate to the Test arena. For now though he is preoccupied by Clontarf and the league final.

"They have an outstanding pack that's been awesome all season. We know that we have to be able to compete in the tight five, the back row, as that is where the game is going to be decided. We have to front up or run the risk of being beaten.

"I've never played at Lansdowne Road in a proper competitive fixture so I can't wait for the weekend."

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