Rónan Kelleher 'delighted' after ending 12-month Test absence

Rónan Kelleher believes Ireland are proving they have the strength in depth to compete at the highest level after their perfect start to this season's Guinness Six Nations championship.

Andy Farrell's side followed their bonus point 34-10 win against Wales a week ago with another four-try victory against France, running out 32-19 winners against the defending champions at the Aviva Stadium.

Despite being named on the bench, Kelleher played 55 minutes having been introduced in the first half when Rob Herring suffered a head injury, in a tackle which saw France tighthead Uini Atonio sin-binned.

It's almost a year to the day since Kelleher's last Test cap, having been luckless with injuries over the last 12 months.

After missing the latter stages of last season's Six Nations due to a shoulder injury, he then picked up knocks at just the wrong time to miss out on the summer tour of New Zealand and the Autumn Nations Series.

And after a hamstring injury saw him ruled out of last week's win in Cardiff, he made his long-awaited return to an Irish shirt at the Aviva Stadium, logging 11 tackles and seven carries in an industrious display.

"I's a remarkable environment to come back into and having been out for some time, it makes it all the sweeter to get back out there and play again," he said after the game.

"I'm delighted with how it went."

James Ryan forces a turnover but Rónan Kelleher is held up as France breathe a sigh of relief. #SixNations #IREvFRA Updates: https://t.co/pvpNDPfniT