The road to being involved in the Irish senior squad hasn't been an entirely straight path for Waterford's CJ Hamilton.
The Blackpool man with Clonea roots has been called up to Stephen Kenny's side for the UEFA Nations League clashes with Armenia, Scotland and Ukraine this month - with officials having only learnt of his eligibility to line out for the Boys in Green in recent months.
Thrown into press duty ahead of tomorrow's clash with Ukraine at the Aviva - the 27-year-old recalled how when his grandfather Dixie O’Keeffe bought him his first boots and chauffeured him the length and breadth of the Deise playing all sorts of sports, CJ would've been the last to believe that he'd be standing singing Amhran na bhFiann at senior level.
Among those to note CJ's potential locally were two former Ireland internationals in Stephen and Noel Hunt in the foothills of Clonea. By his own admissions, despite his talent - CJ has been a late bloomer, so to speak.
He first made the journey into the professional game when joining Sheffield United at the age of 19 - this coming about as a result of a move back to England to live with his father, Christopher Sr.
Having been released by the Blades, CJ Hamilton kept grafting - putting in shifts at non-league level for the likes of Halifax and Gateshead, and doing enough to attract the attentions of Mansfield Town.
It was there where the winger truly began to find his feet - and in 2020, the lure of former Premier League side Blackpool and Bloomfield Road came knocking.
Hamilton admits he has never truly been the finished article - and is aging like wine.
"I've come on leaps and bounds since I first joined Blackpool. I had a period where I had years of two or three different injuries so to get back around Christmas time this year and hit the ground running has obviously earned me a call-up. I feel like I was a late starter. I always started things late. I didn't start pro until I was 19. Some boys were in academies, I never had that. I'm getting better as I get older."
In terms of receiving a call-up for Ireland, it was a tip-off from 'someone in Waterford' to Stephen Kenny and his backroom team. The rest as they say - is history's now. A fine individual campaign saw CJ notch 2 goals and 4 assists in 24 Championship showings - as the Tangerines comfortably avoided the drop, Neil Critchley's side taking 16th place. Hamilton says he never really put himself out there, as he previously wouldn't have seen a call-up coming in his direction.
"I never put myself out there because I never thought I'd play football when I first left. It was a bit of a random one. When I started playing football, I went under the radar because I was at a level where I didn't think I'd ever get called up. As soon as they found out I was Irish, it was quite quick to get sorted. And then based on performances, I earned a call-up."
Despite a slight English tint in his accent, CJ Hamilton is as much of a Clonea man as the Hunts, the Currys and the Hahessys. The influence of Grandad Dixie has never been lost on him - with his past forays involving sharing the field with the like of Austin Gleeson and co, before the prospect of soccer and Kennedy Cup involvement built the foundations.
"Literally, I started playing GAA before I started playing soccer. I first grew up when I was in Waterford with my mum and sisters and lived there for 14, nearly 15 years. I was big into GAA so that's how I started playing sports. My Grandad was more into football than GAA and he used to drive me and my cousin who's a year younger than me, to all the matches. He just wanted to push us in anything we were doing, to do what we enjoyed. Then I was 11 or 12 when I first started kicking a football about. I played for Portlaw down in Waterford and then went to Carrick United."
There's set to be a considerable Clonea and Carrick contingent making their way to Aviva for tomorrow night's match - where it's hoped that Hamilton will make his first appearance in Green at the grand age of 27. His mother Mandy, and sisters Chloe and Kym will be there to cheer him on, whether he gets on or not. That's of no point of concern to the man himself - he'll do his best regardless, and create a good impression where possible.
"My mum and sisters still live here and they come to games in England so they're massive fans and I've still got a lot of family in Waterford so I'm sure there'll be a lot up here. It's about having a good attitude, working hard - and I'll always work hard whether in training or doing extras on the pitch. I'll always give my best and it's got me to where I am today."
Having belted out Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds' and faced the music of the Irish media - CJ Hamilton will feel far more like a senior international footballer now than he did this last time week. It remains to be seen if he breaks into John Mullane like celebration should he find the back of the net - but with both he and Jayson Molumby at the forefront of the new wave of Irish football - it's a good time for Waterford soccer.
Ireland take on Ukraine at 7.45pm on Wednesday - and we'll be hoping for Cappoquin and Clonea involvement from the off.
For all the latest sport in Waterford, click here.
