McDermott started his career at
Newcastle United. As a youth team player, McDermott and his teammates
James Beaumont and
Ross Gardner lodged a complaint against academy
Peter Beardsley and academy director
Kenny Wharton accusing the pair of bullying. Wharton and Beardsley were cleared after an inquiry from The FA. Gardner and Beaumount left the club shortly after to join
Nottingham Forest while McDermott joined
Fulham on the January transfer deadline day in 2003. While at Fulham, McDermott had two loan spells at
Swindon Town and
Darlington. He signed for
Carlisle United on 1 August 2006 after a successful trial after being released by
Fulham in May 2006. After making only 15 appearances in two years at Carlisle, McDermott's contract was terminated by mutual consent. and signed for the club on 29 July. McDermott made his competitive debut for Gateshead on 29 August coming on as a substitute against
Cambridge United. He scored his first goal for Gateshead on 26 December 2009 away at
Barrow. McDermott was released by Gateshead at the end of the 2009–10 season. ==Post-playing career==