Jamie McGrath

Jamie Terence McGrath (born 30 September 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen and the Republic of Ireland national team. He started his career with St Patrick's Athletic and has since played for Dundalk, St Mirren, Wigan Athletic and Dundee United.

Jamie McGrath
Personal information
Full name Jamie Terence McGrath[1]
Date of birth (1996-09-30) 30 September 1996
Place of birth Athboy, County Meath, Ireland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder/ Winger
Team information
Current team
 Aberdeen
Number 7
Youth career
Athboy Celtic
Cherry Orchard
2013 UCD
2013–2015 St Patrick's Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 St Patrick's Athletic 47 (4)
2017–2019 Dundalk 84 (10)
2020–2022 St Mirren 60 (12)
2022–2023 Wigan Athletic 2 (0)
2022–2023 → Dundee United (loan) 33 (8)
2023– Aberdeen 5 (2)
International career‡
2014–2015 Republic of Ireland U19 7 (2)
2016–2018 Republic of Ireland U21 2 (0)
2021– Republic of Ireland 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:31, 2 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:01, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Career

Early career

A native of Athboy, County Meath, McGrath played youth football for his local club Athboy Celtic before joining top Dublin youth side Cherry Orchard. He played for UCD under 19's before joining St Patrick's Athletic under 19 side on their scholarship scheme with NUI Maynooth. He played for Pats under 19's for two seasons, including a league winning campaign in which McGrath scored two goals against Derry City under 19's in the final.[3][4] He progressed into the first team in 2014 whilst still playing for the club's under 19 side.

2014 season

McGrath made his senior debut with the first team on 9 September 2014 as he played the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 win over Longford Town in the 2014 Leinster Senior Cup Final at City Calling Stadium. McGrath impressed Saints fans with his display, including an excellent through ball to set up Jack Bayly's winning goal in the 64th minute.[5][6] His League of Ireland debut came on 17 October 2014 when he started against Athlone Town in a 2–0 loss at Richmond Park.[7]

2015 season

He was named as a first team player ahead of the 2015 season, with number 19 being assigned to McGrath as his squad number.[8] Mid season when first choice striker Christy Fagan picked up a knee injury, McGrath had an extended run in the starting 11 as a striker and scored his first goals away to Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers in consecutive away games to secure 2–0 and 3–0 wins respectively.[9][10] McGrath made his first appearances in UEFA competition when he came on from the bench both away and at home against Latvian side Skonto Riga in the Europa League.[11][12] McGrath came on at the start of extra time in the 2015 League of Ireland Cup Final as Pats drew 0–0 with Galway United before winning 4–3 on penalties to win the League Cup at Eamonn Deacy Park.[13] McGrath received rave reviews from fans, pundits and the media alike for his breakthrough season,[14] coming in a second behind Lee Desmond in the club's Young Player of the Year awards.

2016 season

Although he struggled with shin splints that kept him out of games at the beginning of the 2016 season,[15] his importance to the team increased in a season where the team struggled to deal with the midfield losses of Chris Forrester, Greg Bolger, Killian Brennan and James Chambers. Those losses however, created an opportunity for McGrath to play a lot of games in the role of attacking midfielder throughout the season. His first goal of the season was an 89th-minute strike to rescue a point at home to relegation fighting Longford Town live on Eir Sport.[16] His only appearance in Europe for the season came against Dinamo Minsk of Belarus as Pats lost 1–0 at home and were knocked out of the Europa League in the second qualifying round.[17] McGrath played a huge part in the Saints retaining their League Cup trophy as he played in every game, scoring away from home against Bray Wanderers in the quarter-finals,[18] Shamrock Rovers in the semi's[19][20] and Limerick in the Final.[21][22] Following a good season for McGrath, he was voted St Patrick's Athletic Young Player of the Season by the club's supporters.[23]

Dundalk

McGrath moved from St Patrick's Athletic to Dundalk for an undisclosed transfer fee on 15 January 2017.[24]

St Mirren

After winning back-to-back League of Ireland Premier Division titles with Dundalk, McGrath signed a 2+1⁄2-year deal with Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on 7 January 2020.[25]

Wigan Athletic

On 31 January 2022, transfer deadline day, McGrath signed for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic on a 2-and-a-half-year contract.[26] After making 4 appearances for the club, he spent the 2022–23 season on loan at Dundee United, before on 26 July 2023, making the decision to terminate his contract due to repeated contractual breaches by the previous owners of Wigan, despite the club's efforts to retain him.[27]

Dundee United loan

On 3 August 2022, he joined Dundee United on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[28] He made his debut the following day, providing the assist for Glenn Middleton's goal in a 1–0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa Conference League.[29] McGrath made 32 appearances in all competitions over the course of the season, scoring 7 goals, but this wasn't enough to help his side avoid relegation to the Scottish Championship as they finished bottom of the table.[30]

Aberdeen

After leaving Wigan, McGrath returned to the Scottish Premiership by signing a 2 year contract with Aberdeen on 22 August 2023.[31][32] He made his debut 2 days later, coming off the bench in the 70th minute away to BK Häcken in the UEFA Europa League, helping his side to comeback from 2 goals down to earn a 2–2 draw.[33] On 30 September 2023, McGrath scored in a 3–1 win over Rangers at Ibrox Stadium on his 27th birthday.[34]

International career

McGrath's first taste of under-19's international football came when he was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-19s by Paul Doolin for their November 2014 games against Malta and Gibraltar. His first appearance came against Malta in a 1–0 win in Waterford.[35] He went on to make a total of six appearances for the 19's, scoring twice vs Azerbaijan at Tallaght Stadium. McGrath was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad for the first time by manager Noel King on 8 November 2016, for their games against Czech Republic and Slovakia in La Manga Club, Spain.[36]

On 24 May 2021, McGrath received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad by his former Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny for the summer friendlies against Andorra and Hungary,[37] making his full international debut in the away fixture in Andorra on 3 June 2021.[38] His first senior start for Ireland came in a 2–1 loss in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Portugal on 1 September 2021 at the Estádio Algarve in Faro, in which he provided the assist for John Egan's opening goal.[39]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played on 30 September 2023[40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Patrick's Athletic 2014 LOI Premier Division 1000000[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]020
2015 23220402[lower-alpha 5]02[lower-alpha 4]1333
2016 23231431[lower-alpha 5]00[lower-alpha 4]0316
Total 47451833031669
Dundalk 2017 LOI Premier Division 28630411[lower-alpha 3]02[lower-alpha 6]0387
2018 30221314[lower-alpha 5]01[lower-alpha 7]0404
2019 26240206[lower-alpha 8]02[lower-alpha 9]1403
Total 841091921105111814
St Mirren 2019–20 Scottish Premiership 7040———110
2020–21 35103374——4517
2021–22 1820041——223
Total 601273115——7820
Wigan Athletic 2021–22 EFL League One 2010——1[lower-alpha 10]040
2022–23 EFL Championship 000000——00
Total 201000—1040
Dundee United (loan) 2022–23 Scottish Premiership 27611202[lower-alpha 11]0—327
Aberdeen 2023–24 Scottish Premiership 5200103[lower-alpha 12]0—92
Career total 2253423631101809230652
  1. Includes FAI Cup, Scottish Cup & FA Cup
  2. Includes League of Ireland Cup, Scottish League Cup & EFL Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup
  5. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. One appearance in President's Cup, one appearance in Leinster Senior Cup
  7. Appearance in President's Cup
  8. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  9. Appearance in Champions Cup
  10. Appearance in EFL Trophy
  11. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  12. 2 appearances in UEFA Europa League & 1 appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League

International
As of match played 16 October 2023[40]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 202160
202210
202330
Total100

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

Dundalk

Wigan Athletic

Individual

References
  1. "EFL – Squad List 2021/22: Wigan Athletic – In Squad Players" (PDF). English Football League. p. 141. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  2. "Jamie McGrath". Wigan Athletic F.C. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  3. "Club News : St Patrick's Athletic Win Sse Airtricity U19 League". Stpatsfc.com. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  4. Duffy, Arthur (25 April 2015). "Heartbreak as Derry City lose out in dramatic U19 Elite League Final". Derry Journal. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  5. "Longford Town 1-2 St Patrick's Athletic: Saints lift Leinster Senior Cup". Goal.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  6. "Longford Town (1) – St Patrick's Athletic (2)". Stpatsfc.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  7. "Report – League of Ireland Premier Division – St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Athlone Town". Extratime.ie. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  8. "Club News : 2015 Squad No's Announced". Stpatsfc.com. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  9. "Club News : Saints Win And Extend Winning Streak To 5". Stpatsfc.com. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  10. "Sligo Rovers (0) – St Patrick's Athletic (3)". Stpatsfc.com. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  11. "Club News : Result: Skonto 2 – Saints 1". Stpatsfc.com. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  12. "Report – Europa League – St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Skonto Riga". Extratime.ie. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  13. "Report – EA Sports Cup – Galway United FC -v- St. Patrick's Athletic". Extratime.ie. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  14. "Rising Stars – Jamie McGrath". Sseairtricityleague.ie. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  15. Season, The. "Rising Star: Jamie McGrath – THE SEASON TICKET". Seasonticketsite.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  16. "Report – League of Ireland Premier Division – St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Longford Town". Extratime.ie. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  17. "UEFA Europa League 2017 – St Patrick's-Dinamo Minsk –". Uefa.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  18. "Report – EA Sports Cup – Bray Wanderers -v- St. Patrick's Athletic". Extratime.ie. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  19. "Jamie McGrath the mastermind as St Patrick's Athletic reach EA Sports Cup final". Irish Examiner. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  20. "Report – EA Sports Cup – Shamrock Rovers -v- St. Patrick's Athletic". Extratime.ie. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  21. "St Pat's retain EA SPORTS Cup after thrilling final | Football Association of Ireland". Fai.ie. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  22. "Report – EA Sports Cup – Limerick FC -v- St. Patrick's Athletic". Extratime.ie. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  23. "Club News: 2016 Awards Night Winners". stpatsfc.com. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  24. "Duo Join The Champions". dundalkfc.com. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  25. "St Mirren sign Irish pair Conor McCarthy and Jamie McGrath". BBC Sport. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  26. FC, Wigan Athletic. "New Signing - Latics complete signing of Jamie McGrath from St Mirren". Wigan Athletic FC.
  27. FC, Wigan Athletic (26 July 2023). "Jack Whatmough and Jamie McGrath leave Wigan Athletic". Wigan Athletic FC.
  28. "Jamie McGrath Joins Dundee United On Loan". Dundee United Football Club. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  29. PA Staff (4 August 2022). "Glenn Middleton strike earns Dundee United a stirring victory against AZ Alkmaar". fourfourtwo.com.
  30. "Where did it go wrong for Dundee Utd?". BBC Sport. 28 May 2023.
  31. "Aberdeen delight at capture of Irish player Jamie McGrath – He has the right mentality to fit into our squad". Independent.ie. 22 August 2023.
  32. "Jamie McGrath: Ex-St Mirren & Dundee Utd midfielder joins Aberdeen after Wigan contract termination". BBC Sport. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  33. "Aberdeen recover from two down to draw with Hacken" – via www.bbc.com.
  34. Culhane, Darragh (30 September 2023). "Jamie McGrath scores vital goal on birthday as Aberdeen beat Rangers". Irish Mirror.
  35. "Club News : Mcgrath Gets Irish U19 Cap". Stpatsfc.com. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  36. "Club News : Mcgrath Named In Ireland U21 Squad". Stpatsfc.com. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  37. "Kenny names 27-man squad for Andorra & Hungary | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  38. "Troy Parrott brace rescues Ireland from humiliating defeat to Andorra". The 42. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  39. Doyle, Paul (1 September 2021). "Record-breaker Cristiano Ronaldo's late goals for Portugal break Ireland's hearts". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  40. "Republic of Ireland – J. McGrath". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  41. "Double-winner Michael Duffy named PFAI Player of the Year following stellar season with Dundalk". The 42. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
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