Speedster Gilroy racing up the ranks

It has been quite the week for Ireland winger Craig Gilroy.

A hat-trick of tries in the non-cap match with Fiji last Saturday, a new three-year contract at Ulster to toast on Wednesday and a full Test debut to look forward against Argentina tomorrow.

Then again, it has been quite the career to date for a 21-year-old who now has the rugby world at his extremely fast-moving feet. From a sporting career that began playing Gaelic football for the St Paul’s club in Holywood via Bangor RFC and Dungannon to a double try-scoring Ulster debut against Cardiff in 2010, Gilroy has moved quickly through the ranks to within hours of a Test debut in possibly Ireland’s most important autumn international to date.

The scorer of the 2012 IRUPA try of the season award for his brilliant effort in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster at Thomond Park last April, followed the next month by two tries for an Ireland 15 against the Barbarians in Gloucester, Gilroy has grabbed every opportunity presented to him with both hands.

Against Fiji on his return to Limerick last weekend, he rose to the biggest challenge of all set out for him by Ireland coach Declan Kidney.

“Each season you have a certain amount of goals and one of mine was get a cap for Ireland and with the news of Tommy [Bowe] coming back [to Ulster] that was going to make that a lot harder,” Gilroy said yesterday of the reward of a first cap he had not foreseen even a month ago.

“Obviously Andrew [Trimble] and Tommy are both there so I’ve been having to work extra hard to get my place.

“I’ve two international wingers there, who I get on really well with and are happy to help me out and I’ve learned a lot from them, so I’ll take the positives from that.

“So to be honest no I didn’t but it was almost nothing to lose with those two there, almost like a weight off my shoulders and it’s more on to them. I didn’t really expect it but I’m glad it’s come.”

Having pulled on an Irish jersey twice already, albeit without receiving a cap, Gilroy already feels at home in international rugby although he knows the challenge Argentina will present will be completely different to those posed by the Baa-Baas or Fiji.

“The fact that it wasn’t a capped match doesn’t really make much of a difference to me. I actually played against the Babarians and that wasn’t a capped game and I felt that was my senior Irish debut, playing there with the players and putting on the green jersey with the senior team felt like my senior Irish debut.

“I’m delighted obviously to be involved. Argentina will be a different kettle of fish to Fiji. I just want to do the basics well and take my opportunity.

“It’s been great. It’s all happening pretty fast for me. I just need to keep my feet on the ground, take it all in and enjoy it really.

“It will be higher intensity on Saturday at every level it will be tougher. I just want to get the basics right and if try-scoring chances come, I hope to take those as well.”

Gilroy accepts the new boy will always come in for some special treatment from the opposition and he is aware he will be targeted at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

“Yeah, I’m sure they will. Obviously it’s my first cap, one of the younger guys and they’ll maybe see that as a chance to target and maybe put a couple of guys in my channel or put a few high balls up. I expect that and I will be ready for it.”

And that Gaelic football background has come in handy as regards fielding those high balls, while Gilroy has worked hard to bring his defensive work up to speed with his attacking flair.

“In terms of fielding kicks and high balls I’m pretty comfortable with that. It would be more the actual the positioning for the tackle itself that I’ve been working on a lot. That’s something that I have been trying to improve on and I feel a lot more comfortable with it.

“It will be a huge test. I’ve been working hard on my defence. Even though it’s a big test, I feel comfortable.”