Portlaoise's Paul Cahillane recalls how Celtic adventure made him grow up quickly

Early on Monday morning last, while Premier League hopefuls Brighton were confirming the signing of Richie Towell, former colleague Paul Cahillane was preparing to speak on behalf of the Portlaoise Gaelic footballers.

Cahillane was heading to Dublin for a press briefing ahead of Sunday’s AIB Leinster club football championship final when Portlaoise will shoot for a record eighth provincial title.

Back when he and Towell were two of Ireland’s brightest young soccer players and on the books of Celtic, in the late 2000s, the prospect of settling for a decent Gaelic football career would have filled him with dread.