McGrath nets first goal for Saints in cup drama

Former Dundalk player Jamie McGrath netted his first goal for St Mirren as they defeated Motherwell when he converted a penalty to help his team secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. 

The game survived heavy rain with the Fir Park pitch holding up well enough to ensure the match went ahead. Athboyman McGrath and his team-mates were glad it did as they won 3-2 on penalties after the contest finished 4-4 at the end of extra-time. 

This turned out to be a classic, drama-filled cup contest with McGrath starting for St Mirren. He went close early on to finding the net forcing an excellent save from the Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie. 

However St Mirren - who are also known as the Buddies - did translate possession into scores when they raced into a 4-1 lead at the break with two strikes from Jon Obika and one apiece from Liam Polworth and Sam Foley. 

It looked home and hosed for St Mirren but Motherwell stormed back to score another three and force the game into extra-time. When no further goals were scored it went to extra-time. 

McGrath, who it was reported had an excellent game overall, was the only one of the first five players to take penalties to find the net - and eventually St Mirren went on to win 3-2. 

McGrath only started playing St Mirren last month after a very successful spell with Dundalk. He helped the Lilywhites to two League of Ireland Premier Division titles and to an FAI Cup success in 2018.

Dundalk lost to Sharmrock Rovers in the FAI Cup final after a penalty shoot-out towards the end of last year with McGrath scoring one of the penalties for the Lilywhites. It was to be McGrath's last game for the Oriel Park club with St Mirren stepping in to over him a two-and-a-half-year contract.