McGrath first played hurling in his local area with the O'Callaghan's Mills club.
[2] McGrath's performances at club level quickly earned him a call-up to the Clare senior hurling team.
He won a Munster SHC medal in 1914, before later lining out at midfield in Clare's defeat of Laois in the 1914 All-Ireland final.
[5] McGrath was still an active player when he served as chairman of the Clare County Board between 1917 and 1920, while he also refereed the 1920 All-Ireland final between Dublin and Cork.
McGrath was second in command to Michael Brennan in the East Clare IRA Brigade and saw action in the Glenwood and Cratloe ambushes.