The young Irishman has made quite the impression since joining the club last summer
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
12:00, 10 Jan 2026
Cathal McCarthy celebrates the 1-0 win at Middlesbrough(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images)
Teenager Cathal McCarthy says Hull City are determined to try and enjoy some FA Cup magic this weekend, when they host Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon.
City’s relationship with the famous old competition has been difficult in recent seasons, given the Tigers have not made it past their first tie since 2019/20, when they made it as far as round four.
The Tigers have enjoyed a fine season so far under Sergej Jakirovic, and McCarthy has featured regularly in the Croatian’s squads, and will hope to get a chance to impress against Rovers and help City enjoy a feeling they have not been used to in recent years.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re from, I think everybody knows about the FA Cup and the magic of the FA Cup,” the Irishman told Hull Live.
“I feel like every year there’s always a non-league or a lower league team that always has a bit of a run, and you wish that was your team, and you just want to be part of that because it’s just the magic of the FA Cup.
“It looks special, and everybody wants to have a small bit of that. Being from Ireland, you always watched the FA Cup, and you’re always tuning in, and it gets to the Wembley semi-finals and the finals; it’s just such a big competition, and to play in it will be brilliant.”
Though City are firmly in the race for promotion, and that brings natural excitement, there’s nothing quite like the buzz of a cup run and the chance to go deep into the competition.
“Absolutely, you just want to win the game,” he continued. “That’s the main thing, just win and get through to the next round and go through another round. Everybody wants a cup run and give that a rattle, so I think everyone’s dying to win and show what they can do.”
McCarthy has enjoyed a breakthrough year at City, having been signed in the summer and then quickly flown out to Turkey for the club’s pre-season training camp.
After a difficult debut against Blackburn Rovers and a follow-up at Bristol City, the 19-year-old had to be patient for his chance to impress on the field again, and did so in spades when he replaced Ryan Giles after just five minutes at Middlesbrough, earning big praise from his manager.
Despite being booked shortly after coming on, McCarthy delivered a composed, assured display as City kept Boro at arm’s length and secured a terrific away victory to end 2025.
The youngster was then thrust in front of the sold-out away contingent at the Riverside Stadium, which was a special moment, even if he admits he needs to work on his celebration techniques.
“Before the game, the last thing you’re expecting is to come on after five minutes,” McCarthy said of that night in Boro. “Honestly, I’d say it’s a better thing. You’ve absolutely no time to think about it. There’s nothing going through your head. You’re not getting overwhelmed, you’re not nervous.
“He (Giles) goes down after three minutes, you’re up and down the side down a few times, a few stretches, and you’re in, and it’s just right, you’re playing. This is what you’ve been wanting this whole time, so you’ve no time to think. You’re just out there playing. You’re not overthinking or worrying too much.
“It’s probably not ideal getting booked so early, but I suppose you just have to get on with it. I’d like to think that I don’t like to get too worried if I’ve made a mistake. If you give the ball away, I think you just forget about it fairly quickly, and maybe that’s something I’m good at.
“It didn’t bother me (the early booking), I wasn’t thinking for the whole game that I better not do anything bad here, I’m on a yellow. Maybe you’re thinking, right, just defend as good as you can, but having John Egan and Lewie Coyle there, they’re so helpful, I was sandwiched between them two for the whole game. The amount of experience those two have just talking you through the game is just so helpful, being able to play beside them.
“We knew Middlesbrough had a good side. They were in the top two when we played them, they’re a top Championship side, and they’ve got some very good attackers. We go 1-0 up, and you’re away from home, you know it’s not going to be easy and that they’re going to have chances, but we looked comfortable defending like that.
“That’s OK too. If we have to defend our box, maybe if it’s for 70 minutes or whatever it was, so be it. We’re more than able to do so and being able to look comfortable while doing that.
“I think that’s the main thing. You don’t always have to control the ball for 90 minutes. If you’re controlled in defence, that’s OK as well. I suppose a 1-nil win when you have defended for so long, it’s all the sweeter, especially as a defender, you get your challenges in and it just makes it all the better when you win.”
The post-match celebrations on that festive night by the banks of the River Tees will live long in the memory for McCarthy, and he admits the reception from the away contingent will leave a lasting legacy.
“I was over the moon,” he explained. “I think the first pump may need a small bit of work. That’s the first time I’ve done something like that, and it was brilliant. Such a good feeling, and the lads, they’re so good to me as well. They’re very good.
“Just getting me involved, just small bits like that, it means a lot to young lads, new lads coming through, new signings, young lads coming up and playing, just with the fans, it means a lot. The fans as well, just getting behind you, it’s really nice to hear.”
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