Ken McGrath

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Ken McGrath
irish = Cionnaith Mac Craith
fullname = Ken McGrath
placeofbirth = Waterford
countryofbirth = Ireland
dob =
height =
nickname = Mac
county = Waterford
province = Munster
club = Mount Sion
clposition = Centre-forward
clubs = Mount Sion
clyears = 1990s-present
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Waterford
icposition = Centre-back
icyears = 1996-present
icapps(points) = 45 (1-85)
icprovince = 3
icallireland = 0
nhl = 1
allstars = 3
clupdate=
icupdate=

Ken McGrath (born 1978) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Mount Sion and with the Waterford senior inter-county team.

Early life

Ken McGrath was born in Mount Sion County Waterford in 1978, into a talented hurling family. His father, Pat McGrath, is a former Deise player. Ken has two hurling brothers - Eoin, who plays with him for Mount Sion, and Roy. Eoin is a fellow member of the Waterford Senior Hurling Team. Great things were expected from Ken and he did not disappoint.

Playing career

Club

McGrath plays his club hurling with his local Mount Sion club in Waterford city and has enjoyed much success with the club. He won his first senior county title in 1998 before adding a second county medal to his collection in 2000. Mount Sion won a three-in-a-row of county honours in 2002, 2003 and 2004 with McGrath playing a key role in all those victories. He won a Munster senior club hurling title in 2002, when Mount Sion beat Sixmilebridge of Clare in the final. McGrath won a sixth county medal in 2006.

Inter-county

McGrath first came to prominence on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen as a member of the Waterford minor hurling team. He later played with the under-21 county side. However, it was 2002 before he won his first Munster title. It was Waterford's first provinvial title since 1963, however, the Decies were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. Two years later in 2004 McGrath, who was captain of the side, won a second Munster medal following a thrilling provincial final against Cork. Once again Waterford were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. The following few years have brought little success for McGrath and Waterford. In 2005 and 2006 they reached the All-Ireland knock-out series, however, they were beaten on both occasions by old rivals Cork. In 2007 McGrath won a National Hurling League medal following a victory over Kilkenny in the final. It was Waterford's first national title since 1963. He later collected a third Munster title following a win over surprise finalists Limerick. As a result of this win McGrath is a member of a unique group of players from Waterford who have won three provincial medals.

Considered one of the best players in Ireland, McGrath has been instrumental for Waterford in many games. Amongst his best game for Waterford are the the first round of the 2002 Munster Championship, where he came off the bench to score the winning point against Cork, and the 2007 National Hurling League victory over Kilkenny where he was named as 'Man of the Match'.

Championship Appearances

Teams

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