‘I'll be sleeping on my ma's couch' - Killian Phillips summer plans after debut
From Sunday league at 17 to international football six years later… to sleeping on his ma's couch next Wednesday?
That's where Ireland's latest star Killian Phillips plans to get some rest when he returns home from next Tuesday's game against Luxembourg.
It's been quite the journey for the Kilbarrack native, who admits he was almost lost to the game after a series of rejections from League of Ireland clubs.
In the wake of his senior debut in last Friday's 1-1 draw with Senegal, Phillips recalled how he was on the verge of quitting before Drogheda United knocked on his door in 2020.
There, he worked under Tim Clancy, Kevin Doherty and Wayne Groves, the current Longford Town manager who was previously a coach with the Boynesiders.
He then made the move in 2022 to Crystal Palace, and last season a successful loan spell at Scottish Premiership side St Mirren convinced Heimir Hallgrímsson to call him up for the summer friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg.
Now that he has secured a permanent move to the Saints, he is ready to make his mark once again in the Scottish top-flight, so that he can add to his dream debut.
'I was turned down by League of Ireland clubs when I was 17 but that's football and the beauty of the game, there's no linear progression, you can do it whatever way you want,' said Phillips.
'I was playing Sunday league at 17, I am here now and I'd hope to inspire a younger generation, never give up and if you work as hard as I do, sacrifice as much as I did, you get the rewards.
'Everyone at Drogheda... Tim, Kev, Wayne Groves, they played a big part in developing me.
'They were the first managers who believed in me. I'd have quit football a few years ago if I hadn't met Wayne Groves when I did.
'He was the first person to believe in me so I owe him so much, and Tim and Kev, who gave me my professional debut as well, without them I wouldn't be here.'
As for his summer plans, there won't be any glitzy holidays that many in Phillips' orbit take in during the close-season.
'They (his St Mirren teammates) are all away in the sun but there's no better place in the world than Kilbarrack, I will be back sleeping on my ma's couch on Wednesday,' he said.
'It's Kilbarrack for me now, I might cross the Liffey a couple of times but that's my holidays, I just want to go home, see everyone and get ready for pre-season.'
Phillips described Friday's international breakthrough - when he came off the bench in the 66th minute - as 'probably the best feeling of my life.'
He added: 'It was everything I wanted to do when growing up, so it's a dream come true.'
Afterwards, he raced over to greet his family and friends in the stands - and he had quite the personal fanclub.
'I think there was bleedin' 70 to 100 here,' he said. 'You probably heard them when I was coming on.
'The support that I get in my local area and from family and friends means the world to me. I have such a great support system, a lot of people who looked after me over the years, coached me, I have to thank all of them now.
'I believe I am the first international from Kilbarrack so that's something I can bring to the grave with me.
'I'm sure I will be sitting in the pub in 20 or 30 years' time saying it to everyone who walks in.
'It means the world to me, and I hope it gives the kids in Kilbarrack something to look up to as well, that you don't have to go down the roads of... you know yourself, you know what goes on in Kilbarrack, you don't have to do that.
'If you have a dream and you work hard every day you can do it.
'I am just a kid from Kilbarrack whose dream came true and the kids at the club now (Kilbarrack United) have someone to look up to.
'It's easier now to dream that dream as someone has done it, I am so proud because my community backs me so much.'
Looking ahead to Tuesday night, he said: 'I'd love to start and play more minutes, build on the performance against Senegal.
'If that's starting or off the bench I just want to build on it and show that I can play international football and stay in his mind for the World Cup qualifiers in the autumn.'
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