Kilgallen fighting fit and determined to show 'how much it means' to play for Munster

FRESH START: Diarmuid Kilgallen during Munster training. Pic: INPHO/Nick Elliott

Given the battles with the “blessing and a curse” of his fast-twitch muscles since he arrived at Munster two years ago, it is little wonder Diarmuid Kilgallen is excited to begin this new season fit and ready for action.

The speedy wing has already made an impact, with six tries in 13 appearances following his summer 2024 move from Connacht but the frustration lies in the Kildare native’s inability due to problematic hamstrings to contribute more than those 856 minutes across his first two seasons.

Speaking this week ahead of Munster’s tough URC opener this Saturday evening when Glasgow Warriors visit Thomond Park, the 26-year-old said he has retained the same enthusiasm and positivity with which he arrived.

“I just felt at the time it was a great opportunity to come to such a talented squad,” Kilgallen recalled. “I joined in 2024 when I came and they'd won (URC) in 23. I just felt there's obviously the history of Munster, the pedigree that the Munster crest holds and the opportunity I felt for me to improve as a player and take that challenge.

“That kind of same energy I had coming here initially is still there. I still feel there's so much positive in this building and in this club and this province as a whole. The supporters, the squad, the coaching. I just feel like there's huge opportunities for us all here.” 

None more so than Kilgallen, who feels he still has not properly announced himself to the Munster supporters.

“That's how I see it. I want to win that, I suppose the love of the fans. I want to show how much it means for me to play for Munster.

“I want them to be able to see what I'm about. I really do have that mindset of still showing the world what I can actually do.” 

It has taken some hard lessons to be learned around how Kilgallen approaches training to get to the point where he can start this season in such a positive mindset.

“It was probably figuring it out how I felt. It's listening to your body. If you don't feel 100 per cent you actually have to listen.

“I think injuries are always going to be a frustrating aspect of any sport on the journey. Particularly when you feel like you have a lot to offer and your body just hasn't given you the opportunity to show it.

“It is very frustrating, but I'm in a good spot now, which is good. It happens. You see it in younger players, they just get these runs of injuries and it just seems never-ending. Then you get a spell and you never look back. That's kind of how I've been seeing it anyway.” 

Getting a handle on how best to manage those fast-twitch fibres in his sprinter’s legs has been key, he feels.

“It's a blessing and a curse, isn't it?

“Finding what works for me from a recovery point of view. I've never been found wanting for trying. Sometimes less is more. The balance of not having to cover 10km in every training session and then try and do it again. You just have to find what works for you.

“I actually wouldn't say there has been anything revolutionary really. I've just stayed patient when it's happened. A lot of it, we've looked under every single rock to try and find answers previously.

“And there wasn’t any. A lot of it was just a bit of misfortune at times. I haven't looked back since. I've been good.” Also adding to Kilgallen’s positivity is the shift in attacking gears he has experienced with the arrival of Jared Payne and his joint coaching role with Mossy Lawler.

The former Ulster and Ireland centre has taken charge of strike plays and the first three phases of Munster’s attack with promoted skills coach while the Heineken Cup winning wing is in charge of kicking strategy and multi-phase offence.

“It will look a bit different. It's always going to be about trying to play to the best space that's available. How we do that might look a bit different.

“The shared attack role has given us real clarity. Mossy has a real emphasis on the phase play and our kicking strategy. It's really clear how we want to play.

“Jared brings a real clarity around how we want to strike and how our set-piece launches are going to look. There's been a huge emphasis on that as well. Hopefully it will look different and we'll be scoring a lot of tries. That’s the main thing.

“I've found it really enjoyable through the pre-season and pre-season games. I just love getting on the ball, getting touches and opportunities to beat defenders and score tries is what I want to do. Hopefully we can bring that through into the season.” Unsurprisingly, Kilgallen cannot wait to get the season underway, adding: “It's a real renewed energy around the place. There’s a great buzz around the place.

“We're all on the same page to where we want to go. We have clarity about how we want to play and I suppose what counts now is that we start on the right foot on Saturday. The pre-season we've put down has been really encouraging. It's really exciting going into Saturday.”