Former Drog Gareth McCaffrey eyes the big prize as history awaits St Mochta's in the FAI Intermediate Cup Final

Former Drogheda United forward Gareth McCaffrey admits he has a major personal drive to succeed in the FAI Intermediate Cup Final on Saturday evening for St Mochta’s.

24-year-old McCaffrey is a former Shamrock Rovers, Cabinteely and Athlone Town player – and he is most well-known for his previous stint at Drogheda United.

In 2018, the Dubliner made 24 appearances for Tim Clancy’s side, scoring six goals in the process – with two coming against Longford Town to fire the Boynesiders into the Playoffs.

And after scoring 23 goals in the 2019/20 season with St Mochta’s, McCaffrey is hoping that he can use his goalscoring ability to full effect on Saturday evening against Killester Donnycarney.

“I’m really looking forward to it and it’s the first time I’ve been in a cup final in a couple of years,” McCaffrey told extratime.com.

“From a really personal point of view it’s fantastic to have that many goals (this season). But I really should have more (laughs).

“I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in if it wasn’t for those around me in terms of my teammates. There have been games when I haven’t been firing on all cylinders and there’s lads like Mick Daly and Karl (Somers) who have chipped in with big goals.

“We’re really lucky that we have a good team this year and personally it’s great to have scored so many goals.

“I think that’s the most goals I’ve scored since playing senior football in any one season so that’s fantastic but once the team is doing well it doesn’t matter how many goals I score.”

At the age of 22, McCaffrey was beginning to forge a reputation for himself as one of the most feared strikers in the First Division.

However, work commitments during the 2019 season resulted in the former Hibernian forward leaving his then new club Athlone Town after a short stint.

“It was an accumulation of things really,” he reflects. “I got a new job, so I don’t think I would’ve been able to fit into the schedule that many League of Ireland clubs have.

“I was looking for something that wasn’t going to keep me away from work, but it wasn’t something that was going to be more laid back.

“Craig Hyland then got in touch with me – I hadn’t spoken to him in a couple of months and asked if I would be interested in getting involved and after speaking to Brian McCarthy, (St Mochta’s manager) it was a no brainer really.”

Mochta’s, like Killester Donnycarney, have had a difficult road to the Intermediate Cup Final.

While the win over Malahide United in the last-four stands out – the fourth-round cup win away to Collinstown sticks out in the forward’s mind as one of the more memorable games.

“The Collinstown game is one that stands out to me, for a completely personal reason,” he notes. “My grandfather passed away at the end of March and the last game he saw me play was then.

“That’s one that sticks out for me just because it was the last game, he saw me play so there’s a great personal drive in me to do well in this cup.

“After that, the Kevin’s game was tough – they did well against us. The Malahide game was difficult, and it could’ve gone either way. We were delighted to win and we’re really looking forward to Saturday.”

And while he is driven to succeed and help Mochta’s secure their first ever FAI Intermediate Cup – he is wary of the challenge that Gary Howlett’s Killester Donnycarney pose to both he and his teammates.

“It will be close, Killester are a very good side,” he admits. “I haven’t actually played against them yet this year because I missed our two league games against them through work and suspension.

“For a neutral, a lot of good football will be played so I can’t imagine there will be a lot of direct play.

“They have a lot of good players and it will be a close and tight affair, fingers crossed we end up on the right side of it.”