How a Zoom forum is stimulating a core of Irish players

April was no joke for Jamie McGrath. The Republic of Ireland midfielder scored in three Scottish Premiership matches in a row for Dundee United, including winners against Hibs and Motherwell before opening the deadlock at home to Livingston.

The first two were from the penalty spot but the latter goal was particularly pleasing for the Meathman. It saw him drift unmarked into a pocket of space just outside the box before unleashing a fizzing low strike into the bottom corner of the net. The finish itself was excellent but for McGrath, more personal satisfaction came from the reason why he feels he was able to get into a dangerous position in the first place.

"We worked on trying to find them pockets behind the striker," the 26-year-old tells RTÉ Sport.

"So I peeled off at an angle that we spoke about and getting strikes away is something we talk about."

The 'we' McGrath refers to is his regular Zoom sessions with coaching duo Dr Kevin O'Grady and Gerard Moran, whose Incision Football platform is working with a current client base of 14 footballers to hone the finer details of their games. The ultimate goal of the sessions is to improve players' decision-making in and out of possession.

McGrath training under the watchful eye of Stephen Kenny during the Match window

Apart from McGrath, they are working with a clutch of current or recent Irish U21 internationals like Andy Lyons, Liam Kerrigan, Neil Farrugia, Lee O'Connor, Johnny Kenny and Colm Whelan as well as Georgie Kelly who went from banging in goals for Bohemians to establishing himself for Rotherham United.

The idea for Incision Football was born three years ago in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. O'Grady - son of Cork hurling great Dónal - and Moran had gotten to