FORMER Salthill Devon and Mervue United defender Joe Shaughnessy enjoyed a massive boost to his fledgling cross-channel career when he was called into Aberdeen’s first team squad last week, just three months after signing for the Scottish Premier League club.

The 17-year old from Oughterard, who joined Aberdeen at the start of the current season, has made huge progress in a short period of time at Pittodrie and was on the bench for the first team’s spirited 1-0 home win over Rangers on Saturday.

Although the youngster is not getting carried away by his elevation to the senior ranks, which came about as a result of the squad’s extensive injury problems, it has provided an early indication that the versatile youngster has already made a big impact in the north-east of Scotland.

Shaughnessy signed for the Dons after enjoying three trials at Pittodrie last season, having also attracted attention from English clubs Reading and Carlisle United in the wake of some solid performances for the Republic of Ireland U-16s at the Foyle Cup in Derry last year.

The centre-half, who can also operate as a midfielder, has become an ever-present with Aberdeen’s U-19 side this season and has also played a couple of games, alongside seasoned professionals, with the club’s reserves in recent weeks.

His progress prompted manager Mark McGhee to call Shaughnessy into his first team squad for Saturday’s showdown with the champions, which ended in huge celebrations after Aberdeen overcame the dismissal of Mark Kerr on 63 minutes to take all three points on offer.

Injuries to three regular players left McGhee without a recognised pair of centre backs going into the Rangers game, with Charlie Mulgrew and Richard Foster being switched to fill the roles. McGhee decided to put the ‘rookie’ teenager from Oughterard on the bench after being impressed by his performances with the reserves.

“It’s very early days yet, but he’s been delighted with the set-up at the club, who have an excellent youths scheme,” said Joe’s father, Tom, a native of Quay Lane, yesterday. “It was a big surprise for him to be called up into the first team squad, but he loved training with them all last week. He was the only one of the U-19s to be called in.

“It was his first time to be in the dug-out for a big game and he said it was like a ‘war zone’ down there when he spoke to me afterwards. He is very committed to making it as a professional footballer. To be honest, he wasn’t expecting to break into the first team this season, but he’s been pleased with the progress he has made so far.”

Shaughnessy, who captained Devon’s U-15 and U-16sides who reached Irish Cup finals over the past two seasons, also won an Irish Cup title with Mervue in 2006/7. He recently scored two goals for Aberdeen’s U-19s in a win over Kilmarnock.

“Joe likes to keep everything ‘low key’ and lets his football do the talking,” said Tom yesterday. “He is a very dedicated and focused individual, with a very serious ambition to play professional football.”