GAA was first port of call for late-starter CJ Hamilton

In CJ Hamilton's own words, he's a bit of a late starter in many ways.

At 27, he is eight years older than Festy Ebosele, the other new face in the Republic of Ireland squad for the current UEFA Nations League window.

But it was a call-up earned after impressive showings for Blackpool in League One over the past season, having joined the club two years ago after spells in non-league and with League Two Mansfield Town.

"I've come on leaps and bounds since I first joined (Blackpool)," the winger told Monday's Ireland press conference as he reflected on his meteoric rise from non-league to soon-to-be international footballer.

"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."

On the circuitous route to an Irish senior call-up, he added: "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."

The habit of starting a journey late doesn't just apply to professional soccer. Born in Harrow, England but raised in Waterford, hurling was the first port of call for Hamilton.

"Literally I started playing GAA before I started playing soccer," he reflected.

"I first grew up when I was in Waterford with my mum and sisters and