‘You get that little buzz’ – Irish keeper Killian Cahill on a high after promotion to bench for Premier League game

The 20-year-old is third-choice goalkeeper with the Seagulls this term as well as playing regularly for their Under-21 side.

An injury to defender Lewis Dunk in the warm-up ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Newcastle United meant that boss Fabian Heurzeler needed to pad out the bench so Cahill was added, though second choice keeper Jason Steele was also on the bench as back-up to No. 1 Bart Verbruggen.

Cahill’s fellow Meath man Evan Ferguson sored his first goal for the club in 11 months in a 2-2 draw.

Skryne native Cahill will drop back to the U-21 squad when they play AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy on Wednesday but that taste, from a distance, of Premier League football has left him wanting more.

“It’s definitely a landmark for me and it was pretty cool. Like a lot of things in football, it happened very quickly. I was warming up as normal and then I came in and found out there had been a forced change,” Cahill told the club website.

“You get that little buzz, it’s just a shame we couldn’t win. Now I want to make sure that at some point my name is on the teamsheet because I am playing.

“It’s been brilliant for me so far. I learn so much every day from (goalkeeping coaches) Jack [Stern], Marco [Knoop] and obviously Bart [Verbruggen] and Steeley. I try to take as much as I can from them. I feel like I’ve progressed since pre-season and it’s been a brilliant opportunity. It’s something that can help me develop.”

Cahill, who joined Brighton from Shamrock Rovers in 2022, signed a new deal with the club last summer.