Kilcoyne started just his second match in more than two months in all competitions as Munster saw off Connacht 22-0 in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Saturday.
He was used as a replacement during four of Ireland's Six Nations fixtures, only returning to his club once for the 13-13 draw with Ospreys on March 2.
However with the Six Nations been and gone the 24-year-old is very much back for Munster and featured for 71 minutes in the win over Connacht.
Munster are seven points off Ospreys in fourth in the RaboDirect PRO12 table and also have a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins next month.
And Kilcoyne is adamant now that he has started again his fitness won't be a problem - especially with Paul O'Connell finally back from a knee injury himself.
"He gives everyone a lift," Kilcoyne told the Irish Independent. "It's great to have him back - the players, supporters, management, everyone really feels better when he's playing.
"I was blowing for the first 15 or 20 minutes against Connacht, but that's to be expected after not playing much over the last couple of months.
"You can't compensate for game time so it's great to get that 70 minutes under the belt now. We're facing into our biggest part of the season, the knockout stages.
"Every game is massive for us from here on. We know it's going to be difficult but we also know what we have to do."
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