Seems to be doing very well at St. Mirren lately with 5 goals in 4 games from midfield. Instrumental in their win against Rangers last night, scoring 2 and crossing in for the third. Also made a clearance off the line.
Conor McCarthy scored the winner and Dylan Connolly won the penalty for the first and made the run and pass for the second goal.
All 3 are probably unlikely to be good enough to make it internationally, but at the same time, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of them did.
Joe Shaughnessy was captain and Jake Doyle Hayes midfield too.
As far as I have read, Doyle Hayes and McGrath have been their best players this season. I would say they have the most potential of the lot. Doyle Hayes most certainly can continue his upward trajectory from what I have seen. I haven't see enough of McCarthy to know his ceiling and his former Cork City centre back partner Sean McLoughlin hasn't quite kicked on like it was expected. Plenty time for them as young centre halves though.
Jim Goodwin manager there too. They were on a bad run earlier this season but haven't lost a game now since October- winning 6 and drawing 2 of their last 8.
Hopefully this can continue to be a good news story.
I wouldn't be surprised if two or three of the St Mirren lads went on to win senior caps actually. While domestic Scottish football takes a lot of deserved stick, the Scottish Premier is actually not a bad place to be as a young player - as long as you are playing first team football week after week, and these lads all are, unlike the Irish lads at Celtic. Playing against the two Glasgow teams will be great experience and will bring them on as players, while the rest of the time they are playing a decent mix of league 1 and 2 standard teams like Hibs, Motherwell, Aberdeen and so on.
A lot of the better St Mirren players go on to play for Hibs and move on from there to better things if they're good enough - this was John McGinn's route to Aston Villa - so there's a clear pathway in the game for these lads if they're good enough. It's been very encouraging from them so far.
My take on them is:Originally Posted by Olé Olé
1) Shaugnessy - too old, he's 28 or so i think, can't see it happening. His younger brother still has a chance.
2) Connolly - never saw him play for Dundalk. Saw him play for Wimbledon against West Ham in the cup and he was man of the match and was truly excellent. He's probably ultimately too raw to make it for us (think Alan O'Brien in the Staunton era) but he's got pace to burn, which is an attribute that translates at every level
3) McGrath - nice silky player, could see him playing in the championship sooner rather than later, bit inconsistent though.
4) Doyle-Hayes - have only seen highlights. very highly thought of though. nice little technical player
5) McCarthy - really rate him very highly. Has it all. So many centre halves though - difficult position to breakthrough.
But with all of them, there are so many other players who look more likely to make the grade in their respective positions...
Some names in that St Mirren squad. Obika, Flynn and Alnwick were major prospects 10-15 years ago
Connolly is miles away from being good enough to play international. He has a wicked burst of speed, and that's about it. Had an awful habit of diving while playing for Bray and Dundalk too.
Would Alan O’Brien and Daniel Kelly be decent comparisons?
For me, Daniel Kelly is a better player. I was surprised Dundalk went for Connolly from Bray, never mind him getting a move to Wimbledon. I'd have said he was no more than an average LOI Premier Division winger.
I'm probably being a bit harsh on him, if truth be told, but never been impressed by him.
Danny Grant is as quick as both of them and more talented. Chiedozie Ogbene likewise and, I'd argue, Trevor Clarke too although we'll see if he ever gets his pace back after the multiple injuries.
McGrath scored the only goal of the game for Mirren in a 1-1 draw at the weekend from a penalty. He's their top scorer in all competitions on 7.
They have signed Eamonn Brophy which I would imagine is a coup for them as he has a Scottish cap and has had some decent goalscoring form.
Doyle Hayes is probably our standout there as the fans seem to think: https://www.blackandwhitearmy.com/fo...ge/4/#comments
Goodwin is aware he's facing a battle to keep Jake: https://www.bt.com/sport/news/2021/j...ch-immediately
And Conor McCarthy speaks about his COVID infection and a few other bits and bobs: https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40206401.html
Overall, it looks like Doyle Hayes is still the prospect there but maybe McGrath can sustain his progress too. McGrath was signed by Kenny at Dundalk so could make an extended squad or a COVID depleted squad if we have any of either in the near future.
St Mirren boss believes McGrath can supply the goals and creativity that Ireland are lacking https://the42.ie/5400543
Jim Goodwin describes McGrath as "easily the best player I have ever worked with as a manager" after he scored twice in the Scottish Cup yesterday. Those goals are on top of 7 in the league and 4 in the league cup. He's on a goal every 3 games this season from an attacking midfield role. St Mirren seem to play 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 so he seems to pick up the most advanced midfield role of the 5 or else behind the striker in the 3.
St Mirren had the 5 Irish starters yesterday again- Shaughnessy, Doyle-Hayes, McCarthy, McGrath and Connolly. All 5 are regulars in the side. Connolly, based on the numbers, a little less so than Shaughnessy, McGrath and McCarthy with Doyle-Hayes joining a little later this season and I think he may have had an injury.
Surely if he is that good there will be demand from Clubs higher up the Leagues or other Leagues for his services !
I imagine there will be before too long, he has had a really good season. I'd say a lot of our more senior players will skip the June international camp, clubs will want to hold players back after a condensed season as well, so you wouldn't rule out McGrath getting a call up and a cap.
I suppose it could be a way of Goodwin talking up his value and a few caps would not hurt either. Not bad thinking on Goodwin's behalf.
To be fair, that's not too far off what Bielsa was trying to tell us.
I suspect Goodwin has seen him play a few times though.
McGrath's first goal at the weekend was pretty classy.
I assume kenny knows him inside out, he was in dundalk with him no?
I've never seen him play, but at first glance his career path looks very similar to Wes Hoolahan.
I won't be saying he should get a call up until i've at least watched him, but I will say that we were far too slow to bring Wes through.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
If anything he's slightly ahead of Hoolahan at this stage. But Hoolahan's time at Livingston was fairly forgettable, it was only later in his career that he kicked on to become the quality player he is now remembered as.
I'm sure there have been plenty of players who were at that level at that point in their career who didn't turn out to be Wes Hoolahan. McGrath needs a move to really bang at the door for a competitive cap. He might get a look in during the summer friendlies though. Sounds like he'll get a chance though: clubs love a midfielder with a goal in him.
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