McCarthy seals Kop dream - March 12, 2001
Wycombe Wanderers' Corkonian centre back Paul McCarthy fired the Chairboys into the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday - and was then rewarded with his dream draw yesterday.
The 29-year-old former Brighton defender grabbed his seventh goal of the season - and his fifth of Wanderers amazing cup run - to help bury Premiership side Leicester City at Filbert Street.
And yesterday he admitted: "To get Liverpool in the semi-finals is a dream draw for me as I've supported them all my life."
Incredibly, the 6'0" central defender is now in line for the AXA silver boot trophy for top scorer in FA Cup 2001. Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord has six, McCarthy is on five and Liverpool's Emile Heskey is on four. Cardiff's Robert Earnshaw also has six but can't increase his tally as the Bluebirds' interest in the competition is ended.
McCarthy was one of three Irish heroes in Wycombe's giant-killing act: the operation was masterminded by manager Lawrie Sanchez, the former Northern Ireland international; and their second and winning goal was scored by Belfast-born Roy Essandoh, who answered an internet appeal for a striker and is only on a two-week contract!
McCarthy, who signed a new two-year contract last month, said: "I've only got one goal in the League this season but for some reason I can't stop scoring in cup competitions. My other goal was against Barnet in the Worthington."