'Absolutely delighted to be back' - Diarmuid Kilgallen finally making his mark at Munster
MAKING HIS MARK: Munster’s Diarmuid Kilgallen intercepts to score his sides second try. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.
Patience paid off for Diarmuid Kilgallen after the wing made the most of his first start of the season and now the Munster flyer is intent on capitalising on this Saturday’s unique fixture against an Argentina XV at Thomond Park.
It was a long time coming after missing the first four URC matches of the campaign due to an ankle injury but Kilgallen’s impact on his seasonal debut last weekend was worth the wait for Munster supporters as he scored against his former province Connacht in a hard-fought 17-15 derby victory in Limerick.
Intercepting a pass in the Munster half from Connacht fly-half Josh Ioane, Kilgallen’s excellent read was followed by a burst of speed that had the Thomond Park crowd on its feet as he sprinted towards the posts for an invaluable first-half score in a tight contest.
For the 25-year-old it marked what he hopes is the beginning of an injury-free second season in red after a debut campaign restricted to just eight outings.
That Kilgallen scored four tries in those limited opportunities between injuries points to a potentially fearsome strike rate and he is looking forward to showcasing that against international opposition this Saturday while building another bank of on-pitch minutes before the international Test window kicks in and Munster start a three-week period without games.
“Absolutely delighted to be back, yeah,” Kilgallen told the Irish Examiner this week.
“Yeah, there was a bit of waiting, a bit of patience needed at the start of the season, but yeah, it was great to get back out.”
It was a performance which excited assistant coach Mossy Lawler, who first coached Kilgallen in the Connacht academy, and reminded him of the flashes of excellence seen from the wing in his maiden season at Munster, highlighted by two tries in a Champions Cup pool game at Northampton Saints and a crucial score in the URC quarter-final draw at the Sharks which preceded the goal-kicking contest defeat which ended their season.
“He's always had that gas,” Lawler said. “You could see back there what his potential was. And if he stays injury-free, he can go wherever he wants.
“I think he's capable of bringing everything. I think he has the stature, the mentality. I think he's got the rugby skills to go as far as he wants. I suppose what's held him back over the last couple of years or months has been that kind of niggle here, niggle there, that has kind of taken away from his consistency on the game.
“But anytime he's stepped into a red jersey, he's been absolutely exceptional for us. I mean, just look at his performance in Northampton last year. You look at his performance against the Sharks away, our last game of the season.
“Again, the other night, I thought he was just electric when he gets the ball. He's just one of those exciting players that we want to get the ball into his hands, but I know when he does get the ball into his hands, the crowd go mad as well. He's definitely one for the future.”
Kilgallen admitted he’s needed a fair amount of patience to get him through those periods of treatment and recovery.
“I've had a couple of knocks, some unlucky ones that are, and they're just ones that are hard to avoid, you just pick them up and they take a bit of time. But hopefully, touch wood, that's the end of those kind of ones. Fingers crossed.”
That patience, he added, “it's definitely learned”.
“It's definitely a challenge. I'd say it's the same for any sportsperson, you immediately go to the timelines and you're nearly researching on your own, trying to see how far you can push the boundaries in terms of getting back, because that's what we want to do is be out there and available to play.”
Kilgallen’s introduction to the red jersey had been delayed by a leg injury until November last year following that summer’s move from Connacht and he made his Munster debut against Clayton McMillan’s All Blacks XV before a wrist injury which required surgery sidelined him for another 11 weeks. Yet the wing’s experience against the Kiwis has whetted his appetite for this Saturday’s fixture.
“It's going to be special. My first cap last year was against the All Blacks XV and that was incredibly special,” Kilgallen said. “It's just a different atmosphere.
“It's completely new for fans. It's different for us as players where we're not fully sure what we're going to get with an international team like that coming. So it's just going to be really, really special and something that we're probably going to just lean into enjoying the week.
“And really looking forward to the buzz that'll be there on Saturday and I'm sure the fans are the same. It's a unique experience for them as much as it is for us, so should be good.”
With no league points to scrap for, there is a certain pressure removed from Saturday’s game but Kilgallen describes a different onus on Munster against the wannabe Pumas.
“There's an element of freedom to be able to not hold back and go out and play, but we want to be able to go out and perform well for Munster, for ourselves, for our fans.
“Like, it's always, like when you get an opportunity to wear the Munster jersey that comes with it. There's an innate, an innate kind of responsibility to do it justice, particularly against an international side.
“So, in a way, yes, pressure's off in terms of league points and we will enjoy it, but we'll demand a lot from ourselves and, and from the group to put a good performance out there.”
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