MUNSTER A V CROSS KEYS (BIC Final, Tomorrow, KO 5.30)

FULL BACK Gareth David is relishing the prospect of getting into the zone as Cross Keys once again prepare for the biggest game in their history, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Pandy Park outfit take on Munster A at Musgrave Park in Cork tomorrow in the first final in their 127-year existence.

The village club has already beaten the full-timers of Moseley and Cornish Pirates, an Ayr side featuring Scotland prop Moray Low and more-fancied Welsh rivals Llanelli and Neath.

“It’s been a brilliant campaign that has just built up momentum,” said David.

“I think that pretty much every game since we started against Moseley has been the biggest in the club’s history.

“Our record speaks for itself and tomorrow we just need to do what we have done all along.

“We seem to get in the zone for these games and (coaches) Greg Woods, Mark Ring and Jonathan Westwood really get us switched on.

“That won’t change in Cork and we can’t wait. Munster could have Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell in their side and we would still be going into the game with confidence after what we have achieved.”

David, who plays rugby league in the off-season, has become a big figure in the Keys camp and not just because of a tenacity in defence.

The sight of the full back dressed up in a Father Christmas costume with pint in hand while watching the December dead rubber against Cornish Pirates rubber-stamped him as a club ‘character’.

And David is loving his rugby after overcoming severe injury problems that looked likely to curtail his career.

“I needed operations on both knees and in truth I think that Greg just wanted one good season from me here,” he admitted. “But it takes a lot to keep me down and luckily I am still going strong.

“It was a new start for me to come here after seven years at Bridgend and it has been brilliant.

“I am really enjoying my rugby and I think that this British and Irish Cup campaign has brought the best out of me.”