When Rob and Marian Heffernan went to Italy for a Valentine's getaway they didn’t expect to be turned away from seeing their son play for AC Milan.
It was the Olympians first time to see the 16-year-old in the famous red and black - his second game - following the glamour loan move from Cork City.
But when they arrived at the 1,200-capacity Peppino Vismara in the south of the city, for an Under-18 game against Empoli, a strict behind-closed-doors policy was in operation.
No exceptions.
Instead, they got tickets for the San Siro to see the first-team - who Cathal had played against in a training game the previous week - beat Sampdoria that evening.
But despite that minor blip, Rob insists he has no concerns as to how Cathal is bedding into life at the Rossoneri.
Not least because the teenager was used to globe trotting with his folks, living inside their intense sporting bubble when they trained for the Olympics and other major tournaments.
“People in Ireland get carried away because it’s a big club,” says Rob Heffernan, the former world champion race walker whose daughter Meghan also plays for Cork City WFC.
“Cathal is only 16 and if you’re a player going into that environment to grow and develop, the bar never stops.
“You could come to a stage at 18 where something happens and you might not want it. I’ve seen loads of brilliant athletes at 16 or 17, but mentally they don’t want that life.
“Cathal has the advantage of living that life with us as a kid. He was away in camps, stuck up mountains and in caves.
“The football life is way easier and more glamorous than an athlete’s training camp at altitude.”
Ahead of the 2012 London Olympics, Rob and Marian were training in Australia. Schooled during the day, youngster Cathal would join Rob on the bikes in the evening.
In 2017, as a 12-year-old, he was entrusted with looking after Rob’s video analysis and sorting all of his drinks during the final camp of his career.
“I used to rent a cave in Sierra Nevada in Spain and he had grown up when we were both training there, so there’s no novelty factor now,” says Rob.
“He was a sprinter like Marian, very strong and fast and even has a Munster long jump title from Under 19s.”
But in Milan, it's calcio, solo calcio. Football, only football.
Heffernan started Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Ascoli, while a training game against Milan’s heavyweight first-team provided valuable insight into his new world.
“They brought him up to the 19s - the Primavera - and they played against the first-team the Thursday before last,” says Rob.
“Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) was injured but no matter what sport, when you expose someone to that level, the brain is so stimulated.
“Imagine the confidence you’d take from that. You’re not going to be in awe of everything.
"When you’re surrounded by people who are really good, you feel it’s normal to be good.
“We have that in Cork, a history of really good sportspeople. Whether it’s Denis Irwin, Roy Keane, Sonia O’Sullivan, Marcus O’Sullivan, all the rugby players.
“That can create a mentality of being great in your head. Imagine seeing the pictures on the wall (in Milan). That’s very powerful but some fellas mightn’t wan’t it.”
AC Milan could make the transfer permanent in the summer but the Heffernans are relaxed about what comes next.
Rob continued: “It’s a loan and it could turn out to be anything. My attitude is that I’d pay for a young fella to go into that environment.
“If you’re playing football for two-and-a-half hours per day for six days per week, it’s going to help your development.
“Marian and I are not looking at six months or a year down the road. Right now, he can get better and he’s happy.
“People get obsessed with the allure of bells and whistles in football. To be a sportsman, you have to be happy with getting better.
“People go on with ‘will he make it?’ but if he gives up in the morning, he’s done great. He’s done loads. What are other fellas his age doing?
“He’s over in AC Milan learning a new language, playing football every day. It’s brilliant.
"The most important thing is that you’re willing to work to get better.
“See where it takes you. If it takes you back to Cork City and you’re happy at that level, so be it. If it takes you to being AC Milan’s centre-back, that’s it.
“You have to be happy and we don’t wreck his head by talking about football too much. We chat about normal things.
“But sport is great. What you put into it, you get out. There’ll be more disappointments along the way but Cathal knows that. It’s hard work but he loves it.”
Rob Heffernan launched the 'Healthy Football League'. See the app or visit www.healthyfootballleague.com.
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