Not many weeks ago Dean Kelly was a builder knocking down houses in Dublin.

Today the 24-year-old striker's job is demolishing opposing defences en route to goal after joining Latics.

Kelly admits it is a dream come true to land a belatedly chance to become a professional footballer.

He has swopped training three nights a week and playing part time for Crumlin United for life in npower League One.

And having made his first start in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy against Shrewsbury, Kelly is happy with life in England.

He also believes he is now feeling the benefits of full-time training, even though he had a manual job with Dublin City Council knocking down houses and spreading concrete.

Kelly, who has signed a contract until January, said: "I was hard combining working and playing football and to have my mind just on playing is great.

"It is definitely a step up and it is a challenge I am relishing."

Kelly also believes once he opens his goal account it will be a case of the first of many for Latics.

When Kelly left school he rejected offers from Celtic and both Sheffield clubs in favour of working in the family tiling business as he was able to earn good money.

As the years passed, however, he hankered over what might have been and when this opportunity came about he was determined not to let it slip away.

Kelly, who scored 30 goals for part-timers Crumlin United last seeason, joined the full-time Eircom League side Shamrock Rovers in the summer.

It was while having trials with Shamrock that he was talent spotted by Latics' Irish scouts and invited to Boundary Park for trials.

He said: "I never took up the offers which I received when I was aged 15/16 years and  when this one came along I was always going to take it.

"It is a great set up here and I love full-time training and am feeling the benefits after only a few weeks.

"Were I to go back to play for Crumlin United tomorrow, I would definitely notice the difference."