McGrath hoping to master Cork City

If Jamie McGrath lines out for Dundalk against Cork City in Sunday’s FAI Cup final at Aviva Stadium he will be on course to continue what is a very impressive run in finals.

So far in his League of Ireland career the 21-year-old Athboy man has appeared in three EA Sports Cup showdowns - and won all of them.

He won with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2015 and 2016 before a move to Dundalk for the 2017 season.

The Louth club then went on to defeat Shamrock Rovers 3-0 in this year’s EA Sports Cup decider with McGrath completing his own personal medal hat-trick.

The feat has ensured the talented young player has attracted his fair-share of good-humoured ribbing from his Dundalk team-mates.

“The boys were slagging me saying it should be called the Jamie McGrath League Cup because I have a 100 per cent record in them, three cup finals, three victories,” he said. 

The banter indicates there is good spirit among the Dundalk players yet winning games, particularly cup finals, is a serious business - and McGrath knows he and his colleagues will need to be on their game to get the better of John Caulfield’s Cork City side who are, of course, the new league champions.

McGrath talks of Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny “as a great man-manager” someone who gives young players confidence while also letting his feelings known when he believes a player is not putting the effort in. 

McGrath, who was capped for Ireland at u-19 and u-21 levels, helped the Lilywhites secure their place in Sunday’s FAI showdown after a thrilling 3-2 semi-final replay victory over Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium a few weeks ago. 

Following an operation in August the young Athboy man has recovered to become a familiar figure on the Dundalk team. He is now, along with goalkeeper and fellow Meath man Gary Rogers, a fixture in the match-day squads. 

Rogers is no stranger to the big-game atmosphere, of course, having won FAI Cup finals with Sligo Rovers (2013) and Dundalk (2015). McGrath is now the beneficiary of the wealth of experience the Bohermeen goalkeeper garnered. 

“I travel up to Dundalk with Gary nearly everyday to training and he would be in my ear telling me stuff. He is, after all, one of the most experienced players in the league, great to have him,” added McGrath who is also joined in the Dundalk set-up by Noel Walsh, the team’s kitman who lives in Kentstown, Dylan Connolly and young Kells player Jack O’Keeffe who recently got a run out in the Dundalk first team as a substitute. 

McGrath is to all intents and purposes a full-time footballer these days. Having acquired a degree from Maynooth University he is taking his time before embarking on a masters.

This appears to be the perfect time for the midfielder/winger to focus on his football and see where it takes him. 

He had a chance to go to Peterborough Utd a few years ago, but decided against it - and he’s glad he did.

For starters McGrath wouldn’t have had the chance to play in Europe with the English club, something he has done with St Pat’s (in the Europa League) and Dundalk.

In July he came on as a substitute in Dundalk’s Champions League clash with Rosenborg in Norway and loved it.
Dundalk lost 2-3 on aggregate, but only after extra-time in the second-leg. 

“It was some experience, just going over there playing in their stadium, all their fans, a massive stadium, the atmosphere, it was my first ever Champions’ League and to be part of it was unbelievable,” he added. 

McGrath looks at how players such as Daryl Horgan and Richie Towell have gone over to England and carved out careers. He knows if he works hard he has a chance.

For the moment, however, he’s happy to play with Dundalk with the aim of helping them to victory in Sunday’s FAI Cup final. He’s hoping his great record in cup finals will continue, for another while at least. 

TICKETS

Tickets are now on sale for the FAI Cup final andfor the curtainraiser, the Women’s Senior Cup Final at Aviva Stadium on Sunday.
In the opening game, Cork City take on UCD Waves, 12pm.

The action will keep on rolling as Dundalk and Cork City meet in the men’s final for the third year in-a-row with both matches live on RTE2.

This will be the fifth consecutive year that both the men’s and women’s finals will be played back-to-back at the national stadium, with ticket prices set at €10 for adults, €5 for children, and €30 for premium while FAI season ticket holders will have free entry to both games.