Sheridan will break more than a Gaelic mould if he keeps his place (original) (raw)

Cillian Sheridan is already recognised as a ground-breaker back home in Ireland - as the first professional footballer to emerge from the Gaelic football stronghold of County Cavan.

The raw teenager duly announced himself to Celtic fans, too, with a first goal in his first start in the weekend win over Hibs and he could feature again for Gordon Strachan on Wednesday in the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final at Kilmarnock.

Strachan turned to Sheridan in the midst of an injury crisis and was not disappointed in his decision. Now the Republic of Ireland youngster faces an even greater contest - to win a regular shirt.

Off the mark: Sheridan scores his first Celtic goal against Hibs on Saturday

But it's a challenge he looks set to relish because, even at the tender age of 19, he has required a degree of mental strength to keep his career on track following a series of injury problems.

'Cillian is the first lad to come from County Cavan and make it at a big professional club like Celtic,' said former Hoops keeper Pat Bonner, now technical director with the FAI.

'It's a Gaelic football stronghold there, although the FAI are making a few inroads with courses for kids and the like.

'His family will have been thrilled to see him come on at Old Trafford in the Champions League last week and score his first goal for Celtic against Hibs.

'Cillian has had injury problems for a couple of years. He is a tall, lanky lad and maybe it has been connected to growth spurts, I don't really know. But he is a talented player who can score goals and that gives him a chance.

'He was spotted at an early age after moving to a nursery club in Dublin and has been with Celtic for a few years now, even though he is only 19. It is a wee bit like myself, in that I came from Donegal.'

Like Bonner, Sheridan has not forgotten his roots. After that European debut as a substitute at Manchester United last week, he retained his yellow shirt for his family rather than swap with one of Sir Alex Ferguson's superstars. He hopes to land another Celtic jersey next week to send to his old boys club, Belvedere in Dublin.

Although he missed out on an Under-21 cap for the Republic against Lithuania the week before Old Trafford - with another injury - Strachan opted to deploy him at Inverness in the absence of Georgios Samaras, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Chris Killen.

Keeping a close eye: Strachan watches Sheridan in action against Hibs

Despite Sheridan' s promise, Bonner is only too aware that he could suffer the same fate as many Old Firm kids who ultimately lose out in the selection stakes to big-money buys. The fate of Craig Beattie remains fresh in the mind - albeit he has won Scotland caps and is now carving a career in the Coca-Cola Championship.

'Obviously, the hard part now will be staying in the first-team squad,' said Bonner. 'We've seen this many times at large clubs like Celtic - where a youngster breaks into the side but then has to make way when a more expensive signing returns.

'So much depends on whether the manager has faith in you. It is great for Cillian that Gordon Strachan has turned to him in this injury crisis rather than rearrange the team.

'What he has to do now is work even harder than he has up to this stage. There's a school of thought that it's more difficult to keep your place than actually be given the first chance to stake a claim. Cillian must treat every game like a cup final and show great desire to do well.

'There will always be someone at Celtic who has been signed for a big fee who will threaten your chances. But that is the challenge you have to rise to in football.

'I don't think scoring his first goal will go to his head. I know a wee bit about him and his family background and they will make sure he keeps his focus.

'Nor must people expect too much of him. Aiden McGeady broke into the Celtic first team at 17 or 18 under Martin O'Neill and immediately expectations were placed upon him. But, physically and psychologically, there's a lot of development still to come at that age.

'It will be the same for Cillian. I used to speak to Tommy Burns about him and the leap that had to be made and then how hard it was for a kid to make sure he stayed in the manager's first-team plans.

'If he can score goals, and has a bit of presence up front, then he is going to be an asset to Celtic.'

Sheridan signed a two-year deal with boot manufacturers Umbro on Monday.

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