Sean Grehan has revealed that the successful pathway of Jay McGrath was a decisive factor in his move to Doncaster Rovers. The defender joined from Crystal Palace last summer and says the manager's reference to McGrath's progress gave him confidence in the club's development model.
Grehan featured 18 times for Bohemians in the League of Ireland during a loan spell before his permanent switch. He also had a brief loan at Carlisle United in the 2023/24 season, making three appearances and totalling 38 minutes of football. Since arriving at Doncaster, he started just five league matches before the turn of the year as he worked to establish himself.
"Yeah, I think the manager had said that to me before I joined," Grehan said. "He was saying he was seeing the pathway of how Jay had done it." McGrath arrived at Doncaster from St Patrick’s in Dublin in January 2024 and went on to win the League Two title with the club. Grehan and McGrath never played in the League of Ireland at the same time, but the example was clear. "Seeing Jay's progression was a pull factor," Grehan added.
Learning from Premier League defenders
Before his move north, Grehan trained regularly with the Crystal Palace first team, learning from established internationals. He captained the Palace youth side and spent time alongside Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen. Grehan described Guehi as having professionalism, aggression, and calmness on the ball, while he reserved special praise for Andersen's distribution.
"Joachim Andersen is probably one of the best passers of a ball I've seen of a defender in years," Grehan stated. He said training with both players helped his development and provided valuable advice he has carried into his career at Doncaster.
Current context and friendly rivalry
Grehan's comments come as Doncaster Rovers sit 21st in League One on six points from seven games. Their recent form shows one win, one draw and three defeats from the last five outings. The team secured a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Peterborough last time out, with goals from Alfie May and Isaac Hutchinson, ahead of a home match against sixth-placed Oxford United this weekend.
Off the pitch, Grehan retains a keen interest in the League of Ireland title race, where his former club Bohemians are battling St Patrick’s, McGrath's old side, and Shamrock Rovers. "I hope Bohs win it," Grehan said, adding that there is ongoing banter between him and McGrath about their former clubs' fortunes. He believes both he and McGrath have been keeping a close eye on the dramatic final weeks of the season back in Ireland.
Grehan will be aiming to build on his early-season involvement as Doncaster look to climb the standings. The defender's integration into the squad and his development will be watched closely by supporters eager for defensive solidity. The next test comes at home to Oxford United on Saturday, 26 September.
The original report is at Doncaster Free Press
