Steve McIvor smiles when he considers the last eight months. On Sunday he travels with Buccaneers to face Cork Constitution in the AIB League Division One semi-final at Temple Hill. To the former Irish international scrum-half the decision to leave Garryowen - with whom he had won an All-Ireland League title - for Division One debutantes, Buccaneers constituted a huge gamble.
He marvels at what has been an odyssey, exceeding all expectations. "It's been unbelievable. Going to a new club you hope to do well but to be honest I thought that avoiding relegation would be the priority."
The 30-year-old admitted that he was a little wary of meeting Buccaneers coach Eddie O'Sullivan as the last time they conversed after a Munster-Connacht inter-provincial, it was a little bit heated. "I think that we might have had a little bit of a shouting match. Eddie could not have been better to me in my time here.
"I think that when you are looking at Buccaneers' success he has played a huge part. He's a top class coach, concentrates on skill, offers a good tactical appreciation and gets the most out of players. He promotes a relaxed atmosphere but there is a line and you know not to cross it.
"Brian Rigney, indeed the Rigneys in general, have been outstanding for us. They give us a hard edge, are very competitive." McIvor is modest about his contribution but those that have closely followed the progress of the Connacht club cite his presence as a central reason for the success.
He admits enjoying the responsibility thrust upon him. McIvor travels from his Limerick home for training twice a week but less anyone question his commitment they need look no further than the fact than he has agreed to switch allegiance from Munster to Connacht next season.
"There has been verbal agreements and it is something to which I am really looking forward. I still feel that I have something to contribute on the representative scene and hopefully I will get a clear run in terms of injury. I missed three months of this season, all of Munster's European Cup campaign, with a vertebrae problem."
The last of McIvor's three Ireland caps came in a Five Nations Championship at Murrayfield when he came on for the last 20 minutes of a bitterly disappointing defeat. "Guys like Anthony Foley, Gabriel Fulcher, Paul Burke and myself have never worn the green jersey at that level since then."
He prefers to offer his performance as the argument for representative honours and has not relinquished hopes of winning a fourth cap. But his priority now is Buccaneers and ensuring that the fairytale continues. "You would have to make Constitution strong favourites. They are playing extremely well at the moment and have a well rounded team.
"You look at guys like Brian O'Meara, David Corkery, Ultan O'Callaghan and John Kelly and realise that there aren't too many weaknesses. But there is great camaraderie in this Buccaneers team, a spirit that demands players fight for each other. And then there is the incredible support, so enthusiastic, so forgiving.
"If we are to beat Constitution then we will have to frustrate them for the first 20 or 30 minutes, try and keep them scoreless and inject a little self doubt into their play. We certainly won't lack that competitive edge; we desperately want to win and they will have to beat us."
McIvor can draw upon his days as a Garryowen player when they won the league five years ago. "A great occasion and one I'll never forget. I still have a lot of friends in the club and I suppose if we didn't win the league then I would like to see them do it.
"I suppose the contrast between the two clubs is that in Buccaneers there is a more simple, relaxed approach to things. There isn't that constant level of expectation although that is something that Buccs would eventually strive for. The people are willing to accept the blemishes, you are allowed to make mistakes, just not repeat them."
When the season concludes, McIvor will head for Trinidad where he has been invited to coach a club for a few weeks. He has received a fitness schedule and will maintain that before reporting to Connacht for pre-season training on July 1st.
But for now the preoccupation is Constitution and continuing on the improbable journey. Tough, brave and uncompromising on the pitch, the affable McIvor relishes a challenge, the white heat of battle won't faze him. And if Buccaneers are to prevail, McIvor won't be on the periphery.
