The Shamrock Rovers forward was capped three times by Martin O’Neill and scored in a friendly win against the USA.
08:10, 25 May 2026Updated 08:10, 25 May 2026
Ireland’s Graham Burke with Benjamin Pavard of France(Image: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
Graham Burke says memories of his own international call-ups have come flooding back this past week.
The Shamrock Rovers striker has seen teammates Ed McGinty and Adam Brennan win their spots in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s squad for the friendlies against Qatar and Canada.
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley will be without the pair for tonight’s Dublin derby away to Bohemians as they prepare for Thursday’s Aviva Stadium clash with Qatar.
Burke was capped three times under Martin O’Neill in 2018, and he became the first League of Ireland player since the late Ray Treacy to score for the Boys in Green.
Treacy scored twice against Turkey in 1978 during his time with the Hoops, while Burke found the net in a 2-1 friendly win over the USA 40 years later.
“Yeah, it brings back memories,” he said of the calls for Brennan and McGinty. “It’s great for the lads in the league to be called in to look for the lads here and to see lads in the league get that opportunity.
“It brings me back, it’s a great memory of mine, one that I will always cherish, and to see the lads get called up does bring back memories.”
The 32-year-old admitted that he found it daunting when he first arrived into camp, ahead of his debut in a friendly against France at the Stade de France.
But he backed his Rovers pals to settle quickly into life on the international stage.
“Yeah, it is daunting,” he said. “I think it’s daunting to go into any changing room, wherever, no matter where you go, any changing room, not knowing people and going in, it can be daunting.
“It’s the biggest honour you could have. I’m sure it will be nervous for the lads, but I’m sure they’ll be welcomed.
“The players will welcome them in and it’s something they should be really excited for.”
While McGinty has previously lined out at Under-21 level for Ireland, the rise of Brennan, who only turns 19 next Friday, is incredible.
Capped at Under-19s level, the left-wing-back is just half-a-season into life as a Premier Division player, having joined Rovers last winter from First Division side UCD.
“Everybody can see he’s got bundles of ability and it’s deserved,” said Burke of his call-up/
“It’s brilliant. It’s a great journey that he’s on. He’s very, very young to get that opportunity at such a young age, it’s unbelievable.
“For Adam now it’s just to keep doing as well as he is and keep going on that journey.”
What if Brennan nicks Burke’s record of being the last League of Ireland player to score for Ireland?
“If one of the lads go and score,I’ll be delighted for them. I wouldn’t even think of that to be honest,” insisted the forward.
McGinty’s absence means a league debut tonight for 17-year-old goalkeeper Alex Noonan, and Burke reckons manager Stephen Bradley has “a terrific goalkeeper” to deputise for the experienced number one.
“The manager has shown that if young players are ready, they will play and he has a lot of faith in Alex,” added Burke.