Skryne’s Killian Cahill has moved from the south coast to east London.

Cahill replaces fellow Meath man at Brisbane Road

SOCCER

With Dunboyne's Josh Keeley leaving Leyton Orient to return to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur, the O's have moved quickly to replace him with fellow Meath man Killian Cahill.

Skryne man Cahill, who was released this week by Brighton & Hove Albion, has signed a two-year deal with the east London side.

Orient missed out on a place in the English Championship following their 1-0 League One Play-Off final loss to Charlton Athletic last month, but head coach Richie Wellens has moved quickly to snap up the 21-year-old Meath man.

"We needed to add a couple of goalkeepers to our squad with Josh Keeley and Sam Howes departing, and Killian will add real competition to that department," Wellens told the club's website.

"Killian is a long-term investment for the football club, and we are continuing with our recruitment process with the start of pre-season approaching us."

Cahill's goalkeeper coach at Orient will be Simon Royce, who had a stint on loan from Leicester City to Brighton in 2001-02.

Royce likes what he has seen for Cahill, who progressed through the Albion academy in recent years and worked with the senior squad.

"Killian is someone we've been monitoring for a long time, and we're really pleased that he's chosen us as his next club," said Royce.

“This is an important move for him at this stage of his career, so we're excited that what we are building here appeals to him.

“He is a good size for a goalkeeper and is good with his feet, which is big for the gaffer.

“It will be a big step up for him, but one we are confident that he can take in his stride, and we are certainly looking to the future with Killian being a young goalkeeper at present.”

Cahill joined Albion from the Shamrock Rovers academy in 2022 and has played in two friendlies for Republic of Ireland under-21s.

He played for the Seagulls’ first team in the later stages of their friendly with Tokyo Verdy in Japan last summer.

Albion have an array of young goalkeepers and are reported to closing in on a deal for 18-year-old Nils Ramming from Eintracht Frankfurt.