Cathal signed for Kilkenny City in February 2006 and made 12 league appearances for the Cats before moving on to Bohemians later that season. Cathal turned out primarily with the U21s at Dalymount Park but he made his senior league debut for the club against Cork City on 15 September '06 and had made 4 league appearances by the time he left to join Kildare County on 31 July 2007.

In three years at Station Road Cathal made 67 league appearances for the Thoroughbreds but on the last night of the 2009 season the club folded and Cathal signed for Tony Cousins at Longford Town in January 2010.

Over two seasons at Flancare Park Cathal made 51 league appearances and scored two league goals. In January 2012 Cathal signed for Mick Cooke at Drogheda United. Cathal went on to make 15 league games, scoring once in a 2-1 win over Shelbourne, for Drogheda as they finished second. Cathal played a further 16 games in the 2013 season as Drogheda finished seventh and was part of three Cup final teams as the Drogs lost out in each of the Setanta, EA and FAI Cup finals.

Cathal signed a new deal with Drogheda United for the 2014 season under new manager Robbie Horgan. He managed to make twenty-four appearances during the season, scoring four goals, as Drogheda finished ninth in the league table. Cathal stayed with Drogheda for the 2015 season and made sixteen appearances, scoring once in a 3-2 won over Sligo Rovers, before he left the club in July 2015.

In January 2016, Cathal signed for First Division side UCD.