Month: June 2022

Mo Nerney proved to be a lucky mascot for Laois in 2001 when they put the heartbreak of seven All-Ireland final defeats behind them to win the championship for the first time when they defeated Mayo.

Source: SPORTSFILE

TWENTY YEARS AFTER she proved a lucky mascot for Laois in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior final, Mo Nerney is again to the forefront as the O’Moore County bid for a national crown — only this time she is one of the key players.

Countless small children grow up all across Ireland dreaming of the same thing – to emulate their local inter-county stars. Whether it’s Joe Canning, Denise Gaule, David Clifford or Aimee Macken, every child has their own hero that they imagine togging out alongside for a big game at Croke Park.

In some cases, however, the connection goes even deeper than that – and that’s certainly the case for Mo Nerney, who has become an increasingly significant player for Laois since making her debut in 2013.

Last weekend she was Player of the Match as they beat Roscommon by three points in a thrilling Lidl National Football League Division Three semi-final, and that’s become par for the course for the Timahoe player.

It was all the way back in 2001, when she was just seven years of age, that Mo made her first big stage appearance in a Laois jersey. She had the honour of togging out as mascot for their memorable 2-14 to 1-16 All-Ireland final victory over Mayo at Croke Park, a famously auspicious day for the O’Moore County. Having lost their previous seven final appearances, they finally got over the line, Mary Kirwan pointing a late free to confirm a landmark win.

“I still remember so much of it. I can remember driving up, stopping in the Red Cow with all the team where they had a fry up for breakfast, you’d certainly never do that now!” says Mo.

“Then the team went to a club ground to do their warm-up and got a Garda escort into the ground, I got to shake hands with President Mary McAleese, and you had the incredible scenes at the end when Mayo messed up a short kickout and Mary got that free to win it.

Seven-year old mascot Mo Nerney meets President Mary McAleese prior to the 2001 TG4 All-Ireland final between Laois and Mayo at Croke Park.

Source: SPORTSFILE

“We were in the dressing rooms on the Cusack Stand side of the ground and I went to give back my jersey as if I was playing, and everyone told me to keep it. Then there was the open top bus celebration in Portlaoise after, it was all incredible.”

Happy memories, a famous and historic win, it’s everything a child could dream of – but for Mo, it meant even more as it had been an incredibly tough year for their family.

“I was seven years old, the youngest of five in the family, and my Mam had died earlier that year. On a personal level, it was really tough and the Laois ladies became a second family to me. Lulu Carroll and Mary Ramsbottom were in our local club, they brought me to all the training and the matches. It felt like such a close group, and even as a child I felt part of it, and it’s a feeling I’ll always remember.

“From the age of three or four, I just wanted to play football, but from that year on I was determined that I was going to play for Laois one day and be part of that group.”

The idea of just borrowing a county jersey, of leaving the county set-up in a better place than you found it, is a very common one among inter-county players of all codes. Yet because of this hugely formative experience, there’s extra resonance to Nerney’s words when she talks about this idea.

“When Laois got relegated from senior in 2017, it was a huge blow to all of us. We all grew up watching Laois teams compete for senior All-Irelands, and the county, and us as a group, have slipped away from the level we need to be at. That’s part of the reason why this coming League final against Kildare is so important, because we need to be playing better teams and to compete at a higher level.

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“I remember how I felt as a child, that the Laois ladies were one big family. Now we need to get to a stage where the U-14s and U-16s in the county are looking on and thinking ‘I want to be one of them’.”

Mo Nerney shoots against Kildare in the opening round of the Lidl NFL Division 3 at MW Hire O’Moore Park last month. The sides meet again in the Lidl NFL Division Three final next week.

Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE

Moving up the ranks won’t be easy. Laois have beaten Kildare already this year, but there was a significant gap between the Lilywhites’ form in the group stages, where they scraped over the line against Longford and Wicklow and were well-beaten by Laois, and how they performed in the semi-final against Sligo, when they were hugely impressive against the previously unbeaten Yeats County.

“That looked a lot more like the Kildare team of 2020,” says Mo, who adds that being drawn in the same group as their Leinster rivals in the TG4 Championship won’t have any bearing on the league decider on Sunday week.

“There won’t be anyone keeping anything in reserve, or not showing their hand. If you want to win an intermediate championship and get back up to playing senior football, which we definitely do and I’m sure Kildare do too, getting up to Division Two is very important.

“Westmeath will probably start as favourites for the intermediate championship this year, so they’re the benchmark. Look at what they’re doing in the league. They played top teams in the group, then had a great win over Tipperary to avoid relegation.

“The standard of football at intermediate level has gone so high, it’s not easy to get up out of it but I do think we have the talent in Laois to do that.

“(Manager) Donie Brennan has put in place a really professional set-up with Maggie and John Murphy there as well, we’ve a strong panel with nearly 35 players that has seen a good few changes from last year, and then a game like the league semi-final against Roscommon would make you feel good about where we’re at as well.

Mo Nerney shoots home a goal against Kildare in the opening round of the Lidl NFL Division 3 at MW Hire O’Moore Park last month. The sides meet again in the Lidl NFL Division Three final next week.

Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE

“Roscommon always bring a championship-like intensity to things, there were nine goals in the game and we came from seven points behind to win, so we’re definitely on a good track. It’ll take time of course, but I do think getting back to being competitive at senior level is realistic.”

It’s been an incredibly busy year for Mo, on all fronts. When collective training was still not allowed within Gaelic games, she joined up with Athlone Town to prepare for their campaign in the Women’s National League, while she also manages ‘Pretty Woman’ Boutique in Naas, which is owned by her sister.

“To be honest I’ve felt like a business owner, such has been the stress of it all!” she says. “It’s been so stop-start, particularly having such a narrow window before Christmas, but since re-opening on 17 May it’s been very encouraging, business has been a lot better.”

So, it’s not just on the field that things are looking up for Mo Nerney – but on both fronts, there are some really big days coming that have the potential to make it either disappointing or a really great year for the former All-Ireland winning mascot!

WEXFORD SECURED A four-point victory over Dublin to seal a second place finish in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League.

Since taking charge in 2016, Davy Fitzgerald has never lost a game to the Sky Blues.

Lee Chin grabbed 10 points , three from play, while Rory O’Connor also impressed with a three-point haul in the 0-25 to 1-18 win.

Wexford lost Simon Donoghue to injury before the game started and Shane Reck in the 23rd minute, which will be of concern to Fitzgerald with just two weeks to go until the championship.

Rian McBride won a penalty in the second-half that saw Aidan Nolan sent to the sin bin. Donal Burke dispatched it and finished the game with 1-10. But they relied heavily on Burke and outside of him, Danny Sutcliffe was their top-scorer with two points.

Antrim enjoyed a 2-23 to 1-22 win over Laois to finish the group in fourth place.

Darren Gleeson’s side surged nine clear in the opening period before home side Laois managed to haul themselves back into the contest with PJ Scully hitting the net for them.

Cushendall duo Eoghan Campbell and Niall McCormack scored late goals to seal the win.

Laois went into the game already destined for a relegation play-off but the win was another boost for the rising Saffrons.

  

 

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BRIAN LOHAN WILL have to plan without Shane O’Donnell this weekend after the star forward was ruled out of Clare’s Munster championship opener with Waterford.

News of O’Donnell’s absence broke on Tuesday evening, with Clare FM reporting that O’Donnell suffered a concussion ahead of Clare’s final league game against Kilkenny earlier this month.

The Banner are also without former captain Patrick O’Connor who is expected to miss the rest of the season after damaging his cruciate ligament in a challenge game.

Goalkeeper Donal Tuohy last week confirmed that he will step away from the panel for 2021 due to a combination of his recent injuries and an increase in work commitments.

Tuohy, who has been involved with the Clare senior set-up since 2009, was expected to serve as second-choice keeper behind Eibhear Quilligan this season.

The winner of Sunday’s quarter-final in Semple Stadium (throw-in 3.30pm) will play Tipperary in the semi-finals on Sunday 4 July.

Reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Limerick meet Cork in the first semi-final on Saturday 3 July.

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Kerry 3-22
Clare 1-11

OPENING NIGHT IN Killarney got the home side up and running, Kerry ticking a box against Clare in the Munster championship as they go in search of a productive summer.

Sean O’Shea fires home Kerry’s first goal.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The goalscoring treat served up against Tyrone a fortnight ago to round off the league had illustrated Kerry’s attacking capabilities. Clare’s resilience and organisation held them at bay for long stages but the scores flowed towards the end to leave Kerry 17 points clear.

Colm Collins’ team faced a familiar onerous task in heading to Kerry’s backyard, the knockout nature of the game making this prospect that bit harder.

Ultimately Kerry’s class up front told with predictable names to the fore. David Clifford hit 1-6 before he limped off near the end, moments after smashing home Kerry’s second goal. Sean O’Shea just bettered him with a tally of 1-7. Killian Spillane weighed in with 0-3 off the bench, Micheál Burns crashed home the third goal in injury-time.

Eoghan Cleary did his bit for the Clare cause, showcasing his marksmanship with a haul of 0-6. David Tubridy slotted home a fine left-footed goal in the 63rd minute but ultimately Clare saw their season shut down, a victim of the knockout nature in 2021.

Kerry’s Diarmuid O’Connor and Clare’s Darragh Bohannon.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The game began with a personal demonstration of O’Shea’s skillset as he rattled off the first four points of the evening. The breakdown was instructive – three from play, two kicked with the right and one off his left, and his solitary free stemmed from a foul on himself.

But his most critical score arrived later in the half, drilling a shot to the net in the 34th minute for Kerry’s first goal. The concession was a sobering one for Clare as they were in control of the play around the middle, before Conor Jordan popped a handpass that Paudie Clifford intercepted.

His pass execution was wonderful, a smoothly-struck kick that travelled over the entire stretched Clare reaguard into the arms of O’Shea. The Kenmare man did the rest and it helped Kerry move 1-11 to 0-5 clear by the interval.

Kerry were glad of that input as their play had become ragged for a patch midway through that period. Clare profited with the Collins brothers pushing them on from their different berths and Eoin Cleary swept over three superb points between the 21st and 27th minutes.

The last of those left Clare only four adrift but any flare of hope was extinguished by the nine-point deficit at the break.

David Clifford and Podge Collins.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

In the third quarter Clare stayed competitive on the scoreboard but the floodgates opened in the closing stages with Clifford in the 66th minute and Burns in the 75th, raising those green flags. They’ll travel to Thurles with a pep in their step in two weeks time.

Scorers for Kerry: Seán O’Shea 1-7 (0-3f), David Clifford 1-6 (0-2f), Micheál Burns 1-0, Killian Spillane 0-3, Gavin White, Paudie Clifford 0-2 each, David Moran, Paul Geaney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Eoin Cleary 0-6 (0-2f), David Tubridy 1-1 (0-1f), Darragh Bohannon 0-2, Podge Collins, Emmet McMahon 0-1 each.

Kerry

1. Kieran Fitzgibbon (Kenmare Shamrocks)

2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)

5. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 6. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe), 7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)

8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys), 9. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil)

10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare Shamrocks), 11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), 12. Paul Geaney (Dingle).

13. David Clifford (Fossa), 14. Dara Moynihan (Spa), 15. Paudie Clifford (Fossa)

Subs 

18. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe) for O’Sullivan (53)

20. Killian Spillane (Templenoe) for Moynihan (53)

21. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys) for O’Brien (56)

17. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe) for Moran (58)

23. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes) for David Clifford (inj) (68)

Clare

1. Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)

5. Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora), 2. Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg), 3. Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)

21. Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks) 6. Sean Collins (Cratloe), 20. Conal Ó hAiniféin (Ruan)

8. Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg), 12. Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

10. Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare), 11. Eoin Cleary (St Josephs Miltown), 17. Podge Collins (Cratloe)

13. Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg), 9. Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen), 15. David Tubridy (Doonbeg)

Subs

23. Emmet McMahon (Kildysart) for O’Connor (inj) (15)

24. Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon) for Ó hAiniféin (17)

14. Joe McGann (St Breckan’s) for Podge Collins (inj) (half-time)

7. Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for Jordan (44)

25. Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for Cooney (49)

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Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)

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IRISH RUGBY’S LOSS to Dublin football’s gain, the last few weeks of Hannah Tyrrell’s life have been like no other.

Hannah Tyrrell with the Division 1 league crown.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

In brief, there’s been a Six Nations campaign, an inter-county recall, an international retirement and an unforgettable league run with the all-conquering Dublin footballers.

A Division 1 medal in Croke Park last night topped off a dream return to the Sky Blues, Tyrrell scoring a remarkable 3-29 across five wins.

Letting it all sink in in the Hogan Stand after the decider victory over Cork, the 30-year-old reflected on a crazy few weeks.

“It’s been incredible, very much a whirlwind of emotions for me and something I didn’t expect to happen so soon,” she smiled.

“Mick [Bohan, Dublin manager] and the girls have welcomed me in and been very, very supportive. I’m very lucky that things went our way and results went our way, and here we are today.”

Asked to expand on that emotional whirlwind and to sum up her feelings by The42, Tyrrell continued: “It’s unexpected… that’s probably the biggest thing.

“I never expected to be here today. The rugby coming to an end and my retirement was just a commitment issue unfortunately, with the World Cup being postponed, and then an opportunity came about from Mick and the girls bringing me into the squad. It was something that I didn’t ever think would happen so quickly. It was a dream of mine.

“I had a free summer, Mick and them had a place for me in the squad, and I’m very lucky to be wearing the jersey and getting better each day with these girls. I’m hoping there’s an incredible few months ahead.”

The opportunity to return to the Dublin fold was one she was never going to turn down, having last been involved during the 2014 league campaign before she landed a professional Sevens contract with Irish Rugby.

Tyrrell hails from Gaelic games roots, having enjoyed underage All-Ireland success as a Dublin goalkeeper, and club glory with her native Round Towers, Clondalkin.

Lining out in this year’s Six Nations.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Through her time focusing on the oval ball — she impressed at out-half for Ireland of late, earning 20 XVs caps and playing at the 2017 World Cup, while also featuring 103 times on the World Rugby Sevens Series — her beloved Gaelic football stayed on her mind.

“Look, it was always my dream. If it wasn’t this year, I would have hoped it would be next year or any time after my rugby retirement. I never thought my rugby career would go on for so long, but here we are.

“I don’t have a lot of words… it’s just incredible and very much unexpected. I’ll go home now and reflect on how amazing this has been. League titles don’t come around too often, as we know. We all came here for the big one, but this is a big win for us and a big stepping stone.”

A night full of surprises, many will be shocked to learn that the league title was just Dublin’s second, though they are four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions.

Another big surprise was the fact it was Tyrrell’s first outing on the hallowed turf of Croke Park. A regular fan at the venue, often with her Irish team-mates to support the Dubs on All-Ireland final day given there was no clash with their own matches, it was a memorable bow as she posted seven points.

“I always dreamt of being back on the pitch. This is my first night playing in Croke Park ever. It’s great to have a good experience and come away with a win. It’s mad…”

The whole thing certainly is.

She’s slotted in like she was never way, and taken to it all again like a duck to water.

Tyrrell modestly questions that, speaking of initial adjustments and how it’s all down to the unparalleled help of her team-mates. But there’s no hiding her enjoyment.

“It’s been fun. The biggest thing… it’s just been so much fun. I love playing GAA, I’ve played it for so long. As I said, I never meant to be away for so long, the rugby just took off for me and I’m very, very lucky to be welcomed back into the fold. I’ve had the best couple of weeks with the girls, and I’m hoping that there’s a couple more coming!”

Facing Erika O’Shea last night.

Source: Brian Reilly-Troy/INPHO

After another “tremendous fight” with Cork, that’s the focus: getting back to Croke Park for the bigger stage of an All-Ireland final.

Their flawless league campaign and silverware sets them up nicely for championship – which, to those on the outside looking in, is the Drive for Five.

“Look, we all came here to win an All-Ireland at the end of the year and there’s a lot of games to get there,” Tyrrell concludes. “This will give us a lot of confidence going into the championship, but we have our sights set firmly on that first game against Tyrone.

“We can’t look further than that, we don’t know what’s going to happen then, but we go back training, we go back to the drawing board and we go again.”

As  she always has, and undoubtedly always will. 

• Irish rugby’s loss is Dublin football’s gain as ‘fine athlete’ Tyrrell lights up the league

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Carlow

Darragh Foley dejected after Carlow’s season ended.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

CARLOW’S CHAMPIONSHIP AMBITIONS ended with a 0-25 to 2-13 defeat to Longford in Tullamore. They fell nine points behind in the opening half and must be credited with staying in the game when a hammering looked on the cards.

Niall Carew’s side struck goals through Darragh Foley and Conor Crowley. They might have added a few more had they taken their chances, but Longford’s point-taking abilities meant they always looked comfortable

Occupying the three team Division 4 South, the Barrowsiders enjoyed wins over Waterford and Wexford. They fell by eight points to Mickey Harte’s Louth in the promotion play-off. The arrival of Tipperary and Cavan in the bottom tier next season will make promotion extremely difficult, so they’ll be hoping for a decent championship run in 2021.

Clare

Eoin Cleary performed well for Clare in 2021.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

A sobering end on Saturday night in Killarney to a campaign that had been so promising. Losing to Kerry is not new for Clare but the scale of the beating by 17 points was tough to take. It was only the third time that Clare have lost by a double-digit margin against Kerry in Munster under Colm Collins, all of those arriving in Killarney.

The disappointment for Clare lies in the fact that they don’t get the chance to make amends, something they have done successfully in the qualifiers in the past. That’s salient given what they have shown over the past six weeks, impressive in defeating Laois and Kildare, producing a high-scoring tussle with Cork and posting 2-18 in a competitive showing with Mayo.

But we won’t get to see the bright form of Sean Collins, Darren O’Neill and Eoin Cleary again on the county stage in 2021. Clare have reason to feel they are a top 12 team yet the knockout system works against them proving that.

Down 

Referee Maurice Deegan red cards Gerard McGovern of Down during the loss to Donegal.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

A year that started with an illegal training February session concluded with a low-key Ulster demolition by Donegal. Paddy Tally served his eight-week ban without missing a game and later claimed he was made a ‘scapegoat’ as other counties got away with committing similar offences.

Down’s defensive approach saw them concede second-highest score in Division 2, but they saved their place in the second tier with a one-point win over Westmeath in the relegation play-off.

It was always going to be a tall order for Paddy Tally’s men to put it up to Donegal at the weekend. There has been significant turnover in the squad in recent years. They look to be a long way off the big boys in Ulster.

Louth

One and out for Mickey Harte’s side in the Leinster SFC.

Source: Brian Reilly-Troy/INPHO

Had Sam Mulroy slotted over his late chance to win the game in normal-time, Louth would be preparing for a Leinster quarter-final against Kildare this weekend. They ran out of legs in extra-time and Mickey Harte admitted afterwards his team have plenty of strength and conditioning work to do.

On the plus side, Wee County did seal promotion from Division 4, recovering from an opening day loss to Antrim to beat Leitrim, Sligo and Carlow by 27 points combined. 

Harte has most of the best footballers in the county as part of the panel. That includes former AFL man Ciaran Byrne, who kicked three points against Offaly and was steady presence at midfield throughout. 

Sligo 

Sligo have played just one championship game between 2020 and 2021.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

A Covid outbreak in the panel meant they couldn’t fulfil last year’s Connacht championship clash against Galway, and Sligo’s 2021 didn’t last much longer.

Tony McEntee’s side failed to secure promotion from Division 4 after a narrow loss to Antrim and 10-point defeat to Louth. In the Division 4 Shield final, Wexford handed out a 2-15 to 0-9 beating. 

McEntee’s men were predictably swatted aside by All-Ireland finalists Mayo on their only championship game since 2019. Niall Murphy’s five points from play was a rare bright spark in the game. Fortune has not been on Sligo’s side recently and they’ve a lot of work to do to emulate the teams that reached Connacht finals in 2010, 2012 and 2015.

Waterford

Waterford’s Tommy Prendergast and Limerick’s Iain Corbett shake hands after the game.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

A grim season on the football front for the Deise. Started with a 15-point thrashing against Carlow and ended with a similarly one-sided outing against Limerick on Saturday. There was some brief hope when they toughed it out against Wexford by a point and they gave Antrim a test before losing that Division 4 promotion play-off.

Manager Shane Ronayne rightly pointed to the building job needed with their squad after Saturday’s loss and the lack of proper time with the players in his debut season can hardly have helped either. The gap between themselves and Limerick on the scoreboard has grown from 11 to 18 points since last October, indicative of the contrasting fortunes for both.

Wicklow

Wicklow manager Davy Burke was extremely disappointed with his team’s performance.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

Wicklow sent shockwaves around the country when they sent Ulster champions Cavan packing to Division 4 after victory in their third tier relegation play-off a couple of weeks ago.

Survival in Division 3 had been the primary aim for Davy Burke. Their scoring difference of -7 showed how competitive they were in narrow losses to Offaly, Limerick and Tipperary.

Progress had been solid until Wexford’s 2-11 to 0-14 win in Aughrim ended their season. Burke described it as the worst performance of his tenure – and this is from a manager who watched his team concede 7-14 against Meath in the Leinster championship last year. 

“They probably read into themselves after Cavan,” he noted. Like the other six, Wicklow will be forced to wait for a long time to put it right.

-Additional reporting by Fintan O’Toole

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JAMIE MCGRATH WANTS to use this week to show Stephen Kenny that he can be the answer to Ireland’s creative conundrum.

The Meath man starred in midfield for St Mirren this season, scoring 17 goals and winning the club’s Player of the Season award.

That stellar season earned McGrath his first senior call-up as Kenny assembles his squad ahead of the upcoming friendlies against Andorra and Hungary.

The 24-year-old played under Kenny at Dundalk where they won a league and cup double together in 2017 before defending the Premier Division title in 2018.

And McGrath says that some tough love from the now-Ireland boss helped to bring the best out of him and shape him into the player he has become.

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“Stephen signed me as a 20-year-old,” McGrath said after linking up with the squad this week.

“I’d be very familiar with how he plays and he’d be very familiar with how I play, so yeah, it’s probably a help to be honest coming in and knowing the manager. It’s been a great few days so far, so looking forward to it.

He added: “He must have seen something if he signed me. My focus was on doing a job for the team at the time. I probably did take a season to bed in [at Dundalk]. I was coming into a changing room full of winners, big physical men, so I had to adjust to that side of it.

“After my first season there, I took off from there, we had a fantastic 2018. I really enjoyed working under him.”

While McGrath took some time to find his feet during that first season at Dundalk, Kenny was encouraging him to embrace his creative instincts.

“He obviously thought I had bags of ability. He was probably hard on my case because he thought I was playing things safe and not showing my true expression, not playing with freedom.

He added: “I think it was more of a learning curve, a big side, a big reputation, I just wanted to keep the ball, I didn’t want to give the ball away.

“He changed my mentality through that first year and I am thankful for that.”

After three seasons at Oriel Park, McGrath sealed a move to the Scottish Premiership after catching the eye of St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin.

The former Ireland international’s attitude from the outset convinced McGrath that this was the right move for him.

“I was coming out of contract at Dundalk and I wanted to try something new. There was a few teams down south and, from speaking from the managers at that, I don’t know, I wasn’t getting a good vibe off any of them to be honest. I wasn’t sure if I’d play regularly, if they were kind of taking a chance on me if I was free so.

“Thankfully it has worked out for me so far. I’m really enjoying it.”

St Mirren finished seventh in the Scottish top flight although their campaign will largely be remembered for their cup runs which came up just short with semi-final defeats in both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

McGrath was the only player to hit a double-digit goal tally this season, adding seven goals from play to his 10 from the penalty spot, and now he hopes to bring more of the same to the Ireland set-up.

“I work hard like everyone else, I like to do the other side of it as well, but I just hope I fit in, and maybe add a goal or two.