A hard-working midfielder, McGrath made his senior debut for Coventry City on 28 April 1984 in one of their heaviest defeats ever - an 8-2 Football League First Division defeat at Southampton. However, three years later he took part in the biggest success of their history so far - the 1987 FA Cup Final triumph over Tottenham Hotspur. He set up the winning goal with a cross that was deflected off the knee of Gary Mabbutt.