It took Michael McGovern a decade to confirm what he always suspected, that he had could establish a career as a top-flight goalkeeper.
The most compelling evidence has come this season, with six seasons at Celtic, the club he joined 13 years ago as a raw youngster from Enniskillen, and subsequent understudy roles at Dundee United and Ross County having passed by without much success.
He could have been forgiven that his time was running out until Falkirk offered him the opportunity to fulfil his dream three seasons ago. More than a 100 games later his improvement was recognised by Alex Neil, the Hamilton Academical player-manager, who invited McGovern to join him in attempting to re-establish the Lanarkshire club in the SPFL Premiership this season.
McGovern's talents in Wednesday night's League Cup quarter-final tie at Aberdeen could not be overstated as he produced a series of stunning stops with one in particular, an acrobatic save to prevent Martin Canning from turning a Niall McGinn cross into his own net, breathtaking in its execution.
Adam Rooney's first-half header may have been enough to see the Pittodrie side through to the final four of the competition, but it was McGovern's contribution which grabbed the attention.
"They had the ball out wide and there were a couple of players to my right who couldn't get the cutback. Martin tried to clear it and I managed to push it over the bar," said the 30-year-old Hamilton goalkeeper of his spectacular stop.
"It was a decent save and it was good because I wouldn't have liked to see Martin score an own goal because he has been brilliant for us this season. My form has been good since I came up to the Premiership. I have wanted to play here and I feel I have been ready for a couple of seasons to do just that.
"The No. 1 spot at Hamilton was something I felt I had to take. I didn't really start playing first-team football until I was 24. I didn't work with a goalkeeping coach until I was 17 when I came over to Celtic. I am a late developer and hopefully I can kick on from what I have done so far and keep my form up."
McGovern now hopes that his side's endeavours this season will remind Michael O'Neill, the Northern Ireland manager, that he is ready for a second international cap. The goalkeeper made his debut four years ago when he played 45 minutes against Chile and he believes that competing in Scotland's top tier will aid his ambition.
"I know I am behind Roy Carroll in the pecking order and Alan Mannus has also established himself in the Premiership with St Johnstone but my aim is to get into the team," he said. "Playing in the Premiership rather than in the Championship should give me a far better chance."
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