Daniel Kelly's post match ritual was joining team-mates for pints down the local with no fear of repercussions.
Playing non-league football with St Pat’s CY and working in an insurance company by day, it was pretty standard fare. But not any more.
When you’re good, you’re good and it wasn’t long before others started to take notice of what the speedster winger was doing on the pitch.
First it was Bray Wanderers who signed Kelly in January 2018 before Bohemians snapped him up six months later.
But Kelly - from the Shamrock Rovers heartland of Ringsend - only stayed with the Gypsies for a similar period of time.
He went on trial to Bolton but the club was a basket case because of financial strife and Dundalk swooped instead.
Kelly hasn’t looked back with over 40 appearances and he said: “I didn't think I’d play this many games or get this many goals. I've got 14 and my goal was 10.
“People say their first year is the toughest and it has been tough but I feel I've coped with it well.”
It’s not even two years since he was playing with pals at St Pat’s CY and Kelly has to pinch himself at how his career has transformed.
Unlike most of his Dundalk team-mates, he had never lifted silverware and nearly dropped the league trophy last Friday night as the weight surprised him.
“I was doing well at St Pats CY and doing what most young people do, having a few gargles after a match and probably go out the next day,” he said yesterday.
"It was something I never really thought about because I never really believed in myself to go this far. Where I’ve got to in a few years is just crazy.
“It can happen to anyone if you put your mind to it. There has been a lot of hard work and sacrifices but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“A lot of people doubted me when I went from Bray to Bohs. People just said I had a bit of pace but I’ve a lot more to my game.”
Kelly credits team-mate and fellow Ringsend man Sean Gannon as a big influence on his career.
They grew up around the corner from each other and have been pals since Kelly was eight.
Their mothers are good friends and Gannon - five years older - has been a sounding board for Kelly during his fledgling career.
But Kelly added: “When I signed for Dundalk, Ganno said he saw me in the local park and thought ‘‘Jeez, this guy could play League of Ireland’.”
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