A gifted soccer player in his youth, Cavan’s Martin Reilly was capped at underage level by Ireland and spent two years as a youth player with Burnley.

The Killygarry clubman returned home at the age of 19 and, after a brief spell with Longford Town, decided to channel all his energy into gaelic football.

“You might think 'what if' the odd time but I'm very happy with the way things have turned out for me,” he remarked to Sky Sports when looking back on his soccer days after being named PwC Footballer of the Month for May earlier today.

“I think it (the soccer background) definitely would have helped me over the years and stood to me, that experience. When I was a young lad I would have been just playing football, football, football - that was it.

“I realised the commitment that was needed to be successful, that stuck with me over the years. I tried to give that commitment and look after myself.”

The Breffni County will renew acquaintances with Armagh in Clones on Sunday with a place in this year’s Anglo Celt Cup decider up for grabs.

“You just had to see after our win against Monaghan in the quarter-final, the supporters were on the pitch after the game for a good half-hour. You could imagine if we got to an Ulster final, the county would be mad.”

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