Penalty king McGrath strikes again as Clancy, Curtis & Co look to sustain revival
It has proven to be a memorable Easter so far for Meath's Timmy Clancy, Sam Curtis and Jamie McGrath on various soccer fronts.
Yesterday McGrath demonstrated once again his ability to convert high-pressure penalties when he scored from the spot as his side Dundee Utd defeated Hibernians 2-1.
It was United's first victory in 12 in the Scottish Premiership games with the club enduring a nightmare season up to now.
United looked set to pay for some missed chances until Will Fish's clumsy challenge on Steven Fletcher allowed McGrath the chance to secure a 2-1 win against a side he nearly joined 18 months ago.
It was a big win for McGrath and Dundee Utd manager Jim Goodwin, the Waterford man who signed McGrath from Dundalk when he was in charge of St Mirren.
Goodwin's first win as Dundee Utd manager at the fifth attempt cut the team's deficit on Ross County back to two points and moved the Tangerines just three behind Kilmarnock.
While with the Saints, McGrath emerged as an accomplished penalty taker and his talent to convert a spot kick, added to his ice-cool temperment, was on display yesterday when he slotted home to give Dundee Utd their long-awaited win.
On Friday night Clancy watched from the sideline as St Patrick's Athletic continued a sustained revival in the League of Ireland Premier when they defeated Jimmy Corcoran's Cork City 4-0.
It was a further step in the right direction for St Pat's who had made a slow start to the season that included three consecutive defeats.
Now they have really started to find their form with teenager Sam Curtis a regular for them.
Cork City and Drumbaragh man Corcoran are however, finding life in the Premier difficult to say the least as they have now slipped back to second last in the season.
Today Corcoran's team face Dundalk while Clancy brings his Saints to Drogheda to take on the team he once managed. The Drogheda side also contains Sam Curtis's brother Ben Curtis, another fine young prospect.