Hoops teenage goalkeeper Killian Cahill is Brighton bound

Tallaght Stadium

Tallaght Stadium Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Shamrock Rovers underage goalkeeper Killian Cahill has joined Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

The ‘keeper turned 18 in November enabling his transfer to Brighton – because of Brexit rules UK clubs can only sign players from outside the country after they reach 18 years of age.

The Meathman has been with the Hoops since he was 11 years of age and has progressed up through the Rovers Academy to most recently be the number one for the club’s under-19 side. He was part of the team that won last season the under-19 National League title under coach Aidan Price.

In 2020, Cahill was named in Rovers’ First Division team squad for two fixtures and was part of Stephen Bradley’s squad for their cup semi-final against Sligo – but did not make an appearances on the pitch on those occasions.

Cahill is currently studying for his Leaving Cert exams this year as he was part of the Rovers Academy education link up with Ashfield College. 

He is the son of Olympian Sean Cahill who competed in the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta the 110m hurdles (Cahill senior was also the former coach of multi-medal winning 100m hurdler Derval O’Rourke).

Rovers issued a statement on Wednesday noting how ‘the Cahill family have been a huge support to Killian in his development and very supportive of the club during his time here. Killian will continue with his studies and classes remotely through Ashfield from his new base in southern England. We wish Killian all the best with his move and will watch his future development with pride.’

Former Shamrock Rovers Academy player James Furlong is part of Seagulls under-23 squad. Furlong made his first team debut for Rovers as a 16-year-old in Oriel Park in April 2019. He has made 14 appearances for Albion’s under-23 side so far this season. That team includes Gary Dicker as part of their coaching structure.

Additional ex-LOI players on the books with the Seagulls are former Bray player Andrew Moran and former Bohs player Evan Ferguson. Manager Graham Potter noted at his press conference today that Ferguson has been training with his senior squad for the last couple of weeks. 

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile