 Tadhg Purcell played most his schoolboy career at Leicester Celtic, where he played alongside future teammate Barry Murphy.He also gained success with his St Benildus team, and was part of the under-18s Dublin Soccer champions team at St Benildus College in 2003, when they beat Malahide 1–0 in the final, which was held at Wayside Celtic's ground.Tadgh Purcell originally received a soccer scholarship from University College Dublin (UCD AFC), where he played the beginning of his senior career.