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Jamie McGrath gives strongest hint yet about potential player boycott of Israel games

"I think Samus spoke really well about it the other day. We all don't agree with what's going on. "

[Jamie McGrath ]

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Jamie McGrath (Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Jamie McGrath has given the strongest indication yet that certain Ireland players might boycott the forthcoming Nations Cup games with Israel.

The nearer those games come it appears the Ireland players are anxious to leave this up to personal preferences.

McGrath was speaking following the Ireland-Qatar game which was interrupted twice as pro-Palestine protesters threw tennis ball onto the pitch.

Ah listen, everybody has a right to voice their opinion as long as it's done in a safe way, we don't mind," said McGrath, a 29 year-old Athboy, Co Meath, native who plays his football in Scotland with Hibernian.

"Obviously it was a stop-start game, it took a bit of a lull after that but people have their own opinion and it's one of those things.

" I've never really been in this situation before so it's all a learning curve to me. As long as it's done in the right way, we're fine with it.

The scheduled Nations League fixtures with Israel has been a major topic of conversation among the Ireland players.

Yeah I think Samus spoke really well about it the other day. We all don't agree with what's going on. Ideally it's not in our hands.

"We don't know what's going to happen as the build-up to the game, there's a lot of permutations that could happen. But like I said, ideally it's not a nice situation to be put into. Like I said, personally, none of us agree with what's going on.

"I don't know if that decision will come or not, I'll have to obviously have a chat with my family because at the end of the day it's my people but it's a long way away now but we'll see when it comes around.

The 1-0 win over Qatar was a personal triumph for McGrath who had received a late call up and and was rewarded with a start in the no10 shirt.

"Obviously great to be back in a green shirt, play 90 minutes and obviously come out on the right side of it. Its a positive night for us, we had to dig in, playing the majority of the game with ten men (last 12 minutes or so).

"We probably got back on top once it went ten v ten, personally Im just delighted to be back out there, there is no better feeling. Yeah delighted to be back."

It had been a while since McGrath had been involved and, he revealed, it wasn't easy joining up with the group.

"I've been in a lot of camps and obviously have a bit of limited game time so I was actually on holiday Sunday night when the gaffer rang me to come in Monday, I only landed about an hour and just went out for dinner and I had a nice call from the gaffer.

"I was in Malaga in Marbella. I was obviously over the moon, she was over the moon as well.

"Once I spoke to him, we have a great relationship, he's brought me in loads of times before and it was a no-brainer I won't come in unless my leg is hanging off.

"So it was a quick turnaround and I'd had other holidays planned this week. My girlfriend actually travelled to Nashville today on her own with two of our mates so she was trying to get Wi-Fi on the plane to watch the game.

"You have 30 years when you retire to go on holiday. I'm just delighted to get the nod and like I said, I have a great relationship with the gaffer and he was quite clear and yeah, it was delightful."

That Ireland were down to 10 men - Jack Moylan red-carded just on half-time was, as generally accepted around the ground, a travesty.

We were aware before the game there wasnt VAR. Normally Im not a big fan of it, but on days like this, Im sure

"Ive not seen it back but Im sure from what Ive seen its not a red card and Jacks the same and everyone is the same opinion.

"He was very dejected inside and it's our job to pick him back up. He's a great fella, he's been a breath of fresh air. I wasn't in the Grenada camp but got to know him really well this week and he's flying so he is and I can see why.

"Hes a great attitude, he's a really busy, he's a good fella and started off like a house on fire I thought. But he didn't deserve that red. I think like I said if there's VAR, there's no chance.

"It's probably a soft free kick but best. We had to just get the grips of it. Like I said, probably just had to work hard, limited them to not much. Not the entertaining game we wanted to give our fans but we came out with the win.

"But yeah, kind of tarnished the night a bit because we wanted to play 11 v 11, its a friendly training exercise, we wanted to get as much out of it as we could.

"But physically then as a team, we were well organised, we kind of limited them to not very much and a clean sheet to build on."

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