Over the following three seasons, the winger could only double his PRO12 try tally to 16 but this campaign has been a different tale entirely.
With 11 tries - and possibly more to come in the play-offs - only Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb can match Gilroy as the league's most potent attacking threat.
Indeed, the 24-year-old flyer has eight GUINNESS PRO12 scores in his last seven games and with a World Cup on the horizon, Ulster head coach Neil Doak believes Gilroy - with just six senior caps to his name - is becoming hard to ignore.
"If you can get him one-on-one with a bit of space he can do a bit of damage," said Doak.
"He, maybe unfortunately, hasn't had a look-in at international level on a more regular basis but if he continues to score tries, I'm sure he'll be knocking on the door for a green jersey pretty soon."
However, a more pressing concern for Ulster and Gilroy is a GUINNESS PRO12 semi-final trip to Scotstoun where they will face table-topping Glasgow Warriors.
And the men from Belfast will likely turn to their try-scoring machine in search of inspiration and a place in the Kingspan Stadium Final.
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