Sometimes a career in the professional game isn’t for everyone - not that Alex Kelly found it easy to walk away.
Tonight he will be a key member of the Maynooth University Town team that pitches up at Dalymount Park dreaming of an FAI Cup quarter-final upset over Bohemians.
And ever since the draw was made, he has wondered what might have been had he stayed with the Gypsies instead of pursuing a scholarship at Maynooth University.
But almost two years on, Kelly is adamant that he has no regrets.
As a 16-year-old, he went on trial to West Brom and the following year he was at Burnley. But it was at Bohs where he established himself.
He had a year with the Under-17s and two with the Under-19s where he was captain during the second one.
Current first-team stars like Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney and Andy Lyons were his team-mates and they remain good pals.
When he made his Bohs first-team debut in a Leinster Senior Cup win away to Shelbourne in 2019, Devoy and Lyons also featured at Tolka Park that night.
But friendships will be parked this evening as he tries to be a thorn in their side.
Kelly, 21, told Mirror Sport: “In my final year at Bohs, I was moved into the first-team for training along with Rossy and Dawson and just played games for the 19s.
“The three of us were moved up at the same time but for one or two reasons with contracts and that, I just knew I didn’t want to do this for the rest of my life.
“So I stepped back as I didn't want to waste the lads' time as Keith (Long) and Trevor (Croly) had been very good to me.
“I’ve no doubt that thousands of lads would give their right leg to be in the position I was, getting offered a contract with Bohs’ first-team - and a team on the up.
“You look at Rossy, Dawson and Andy now - all of them are in the Ireland Under-21 squad and playing in big European nights for Bohs.
“But it just wasn't for me in terms of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and I had other career ambitions.
“I only graduated from Maynooth University last week after three years on scholarship and studying business.
“Everyone has different ambitions and the most important thing is figuring out what you want to do.”
Midfielder Kelly continued: “Football played a massive part in my life and I had a great time. I went to Premier League clubs on trial and represented Ireland at underage.
“When you get to West Brom and Burnley, you realise that getting there is actually the easy part.
“Getting into the first-team is the hard part and that’s why so few make it. Trials at that age were a great learning experience and taught me a lot about myself.”
Kelly said: “It got to a point where I had to ask myself if I was going to keep on doing this. It wasn't what I wanted and I wasn't going to waste anyone's time at Bohs.
“Football at that level needs your 100% commitment and I wasn’t willing to do that.”
Combining his studies with Leinster Senior League football was the perfect fit for Kelly but admits being torn about turning his back on the professional game.
“There were a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of tossing and turning,” he said. “It took me two months to decide and it was difficult because you have the world at your feet.
“It was a difficult conversation with my parents given how many sacrifices they made to get me to that point and also the hard work that I put in myself.
“But it comes down to what people want and Rossy and Dawson were willing to put in that commitment and you can see the fruits of their success - they’re flying.
“But it wasn’t for me and I’ve other ambitions and I’m career focussed now having just graduated from college.”
Maynooth are 14/1 rank outsiders in a two-horse race tonight but while their league form is patchy this season, the Kildare outfit have pedigree in the FAI Cup.
They played Cork City in 2018 when the Rebels were double champions and also faced Waterford while they dumped Cobh Ramblers out of the previous round this year.
Their allocation of 450 tickets was snapped up in two hours and the buzz around Maynooth town hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Kelly added: “I’ve nothing but praise for our management team of Shane Harte, Ciaran Kliduff and Gavin Kinsella who have raised our standards in every way possible.
“We seem to have found a bit of magic in the cup and wouldn’t it be special to cause another upset.”
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