On 9 November 1941, he helped Dublin win the Leinster title, partnering Joe Fitzgerald of Geraldines in midfield in the final against Carlow.

When this was discovered, the Gaelic Athletic Association, which maintained a ban on foreign sports, expelled Martin and withheld his winners medal.

Martin was introduced to soccer while serving in the Irish Air Corps and subsequently signed for Drumcondra.

While helping the club win the FAI Cup, he covered most of the defensive positions and centre-half role.

[5] In 1946 when Manchester United were searching for a goalkeeper, fellow Irish international, Johnny Carey recommended Martin to Matt Busby.

[4][5] He joined Leeds in December 1946 for a fee of £8,000 and under manager Major Frank Buckley he made 47 English League appearances.

He scored his only goal for the club on 6 December 1947 at Elland Road in a league game against West Ham United.

Martin started the 1951–52 season as a left-back, but after goalkeeper Joe Rutherford was injured and the club was caught without cover he took over duties between the posts.

When Martin began his international career in 1946 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations.

After half an hour of the first game on 16 June against Portugal, with the Irish already trailing 3–0, goalkeeper Ned Courtney was injured and the selectors put Martin in goal.

Together with Johnny Carey, Peter Farrell, Bill Gorman, Tommy Eglington, Alex Stevenson and Davy Walsh, he was one of seven players born in the Irish Free State to play for the IFA XI that day.

Martin helped the IFA XI gain some more respectable results, including a 2–0 win against Scotland on 4 October 1947 and a 2–2 draw with England at Goodison Park on 5 November 1947.

As well as being part of the 1950 British Home Championship, the game also doubled up as a qualifier for the 1950 FIFA World Cup.

This situation eventually led to intervention by FIFA and as a result Martin became one of the last four Free State -born players to play for IFA XI.