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Jamie McGrath (right) played 90 minutes in an eventful win over Qatar [Getty Images]
Jamie McGrath was happy to leave his girlfriend heading for a Nashville holiday without him after being called up late - and straight into the Republic of Ireland starting line-up - for Thursday's 1-0 win over Qatar.
The 29-year-old Hibernian midfielder was not included in Heimir Hallgrimsson's initial squad for the friendly - and the trip to Canada on 6 June - and was on holiday in Marbella when he was drafted in at short notice due to injuries.
McGrath was handed a 14th cap, his first since a Nations League win in Finland in October 2024, as Ireland beat the World Cup-bound visitors in Dublin.
"I was actually on holiday Sunday night when the gaffer rang me to come in Monday," he said. "I'd only landed about an hour and just went out for dinner - and I had a nice call from the gaffer.
"Once I spoke to him – we have a great relationship, he's brought me in loads of times before – it was a no-brainer.
"I won't not come in unless my leg is hanging off, so it was a quick turnaround. I 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 it today.
"You have 30 years when you retire to go on holiday. I'm just delighted to get the nod."
McGrath played the whole 90 minutes as the Irish, for whom Celtic centre-half Liam Scales also started, won thanks to Nathan Collins early header, the match was disrupted by tennis balls thrown on to the pitch in protest against upcoming Israel fixtures while both sides lost a player to a red card.
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