Kerry FAI Cup run ‘way ahead of schedule’ as Shamrock Rovers clash looms

Seanie McGrath said Kerry's FAI Cup semi-final against Shamrock Rovers is "new experience, so it's more exciting than daunting".

Ballyduff man Seanie McGrath has played 111 times for Kerry FC, scoring 19 times. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Kerry hurling folklore says a team led by a Ballyduff man has a head start. If that wisdom translates to soccer, then Ballyduff’s own Sean McGrath would be the right man to lead Kerry FC into the biggest game in their short history, an FAI Cup semi-final against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Sunday.

Seanie, as he is better known, is made of tough stuff. He has played 111 games for Kerry, scored 19 goals, and has six assists to his name. He scored a cracker last Friday against Treaty United in the league, and in the absence of Ryan Kelliher, McGrath is the side’s top scorer this year, netting nine times from midfield.

Reaching an FAI Cup semi-final against mighty Shamrock Rovers must be the biggest achievement of the Cork City academy product’s career.

“It's an absolutely massive game,” he stresses.

"We're up against Shamrock Rovers, best team in the country. It's something we haven't experienced before. I know we've experienced Premier Division teams before, but not to this magnitude and away from home as well.

“I've played there [Tallaght Stadium] a couple of times underage, not with many people in it, and before the new stand as well, so a couple of times, but not to this extent.” 

McGrath can scarcely believe Kerry’s extraordinary cup run this season that included come from behind extra-time wins over both Athlone Town and, most miraculously of all, Sligo Rovers in the quarter-final, when they came from 3-0 down to win 4-3.

“Once we got one back, I think we had that belief,” the 22-year-old recounts.

"We always have that belief in ourselves and that especially anything can happen in the cup. It's a massive, massive task on Sunday. We all know that. Look, they're the best team in the country by a long shot as well, but you never know, the cup is special as well.” 

Kerry have been drawn at home 10 times from 12 in cup competitions but their luck ran out for their biggest game to date.

"I don't know, look, it's another game as well,” the Ballyduff man says with a shrug.

"I suppose it's a new experience, so it's more exciting than daunting. We're just looking forward to it. These are the type of games that every player wants to be involved in.

"You want to be playing against the best and testing yourself, to see how far off you are, or if you can equal them on the day. It's very exciting because they're a very, very good side, the best side in the country, and everyone in our dressing room is looking forward to going up there and testing ourselves against them.

"It cannot be emphasised enough how big a deal it is for this club, just three years in existence, to be playing in such a massive, massive game. In a lot of ways this is way ahead of schedule, which is credit to the work being done.” McGrath said.