He ended his first season with Cork City as the country’s top goalscorer, but Sean Maguire has moved up a gear in 2017. The 22-year-old striker has scored nine league goals so far this season but has also shown his ability as a provider by engineering four assists for the Premier Division leaders. With Preston North End and Celtic watching Maguire in the past week, a return to the UK seems inevitable for the ex-West Ham man.
2. Patrick McEleney (Dundalk)
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The 24-year-old playmaker has been a joy to watch this season, pulling the strings for the champions while attempting to fill the creative void that was left by the departures of Daryl Horgan and Ronan Finn. A magician of a footballer with excellent vision, a diverse range of passing and the ability to score as well as create, the Derry native will be key to Dundalk’s hopes to close the gap between themselves and Cork City as the season progresses.
3. Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers)
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
McCabe won every major honour in the domestic game during his time with Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers, but the 28-year-old has been in the form of his career since returning to Bray Wanderers this season. Traditionally a winger, being deployed in a central attacking midfield role by Harry Kenny has worked well for McCabe, who’s the league’s top goalscorer having hit the net on 11 occasions already in 2017.
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4. Conor McCormack (Cork City)
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
It says a lot about the impact McCormack has had on Leeside that even since Greg Bolger returned from injury, last season’s stand-in captain has been unable to regain his place in the holding midfield role. The former Shamrock Rovers and Derry City man started the season by playing in defence, before moving into midfield and successfully nullifying the impact of Patrick McEleney during last month’s top-of-the-table clash with Dundalk. Still only 26, McCormack has become a fans’ favourite at Turner’s Cross while acting as a shield for City’s defence.
5. Karl Sheppard (Cork City)
Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
Although Sean Maguire has generated most of the headlines, Karl Sheppard has done more than any other Cork City attacking player to dispel the myth that the Leesiders are a one-man team. Now in his third season with City, the former Reading striker has thrived in a wide role for the league leaders, scoring six league goals — including this spectacular volley against Bohemians earlier this month.
Securing Connolly’s services for another two years was an important piece of business Bray Wanderers conducted during the off-season, particularly with Dundalk keen to bring him in as a replacement for Daryl Horgan. The 21-year-old winger has been superb since joining the Seagulls from Ipswich Town last season and his excellent form has continued into 2017. Connolly has helped to put Bray in a strong position to challenge for a Europa League spot, chipping in with four league goals so far this season.
Aaron McEneff, Nicky Low and Nathan Boyle have all looked impressive this season for the Candystripes, but Barry McNamee has been the main man for Kenny Shiels’ side. A gifted player with an excellent left foot, the midfielder has been playing the best football of his career this season since making his debut in 2012. The Donegal native returned from injury to make his first start in four games on Tuesday, scoring a stunning free-kick — his fifth league goal of the season — to rescue a point for his side at home to Limerick.
8. Kieran Sadlier (Sligo Rovers)
Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
Having picked up just two league wins this season, Sligo Rovers haven’t had much to shout about. However, Kieran Sadlier has been a shining light for the Bit O’Red in a difficult campaign so far. The former Ireland U21 winger is likely to attract attention from elsewhere in the League of Ireland — and possibly beyond — when the transfer window opens. The English-born 22-year-old, who had spells with West Ham, St Mirren, Peterborough United and Halifax Town, has scored five league goals this year.
9. Ryan Delaney (Cork City)
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Currently on loan from Burton Albion, Delaney’s seamless transition into the heart of the Cork City defence came as a relief to manager John Caulfield, who was forced to contend with the untimely departure of Kenny Browne to Waterford on the eve of the new season. At 20 years of age, Delaney is far from the finished article but he has blossomed while playing alongisde the experienced Alan Bennett, helping the Leesiders to keep eight clean sheets from their 13 competitive games this season. If Delaney is recalled by Burton in the summer, the loss of the Wexford native is likely to be a big blow to City’s title hopes.
Due to injury, McMillan didn’t make his first start of 2017 until Dundalk’s derby win over Drogheda United four weeks ago — which was the Lilywhites’ seventh league game of the season. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old striker has been prolific, scoring six goals in his last six outings for the defending champions.
Ranking the top 10 players from the first series of League of Ireland games
1. Sean Maguire (Cork City)
He ended his first season with Cork City as the country’s top goalscorer, but Sean Maguire has moved up a gear in 2017. The 22-year-old striker has scored nine league goals so far this season but has also shown his ability as a provider by engineering four assists for the Premier Division leaders. With Preston North End and Celtic watching Maguire in the past week, a return to the UK seems inevitable for the ex-West Ham man.
2. Patrick McEleney (Dundalk)
The 24-year-old playmaker has been a joy to watch this season, pulling the strings for the champions while attempting to fill the creative void that was left by the departures of Daryl Horgan and Ronan Finn. A magician of a footballer with excellent vision, a diverse range of passing and the ability to score as well as create, the Derry native will be key to Dundalk’s hopes to close the gap between themselves and Cork City as the season progresses.
3. Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers)
McCabe won every major honour in the domestic game during his time with Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers, but the 28-year-old has been in the form of his career since returning to Bray Wanderers this season. Traditionally a winger, being deployed in a central attacking midfield role by Harry Kenny has worked well for McCabe, who’s the league’s top goalscorer having hit the net on 11 occasions already in 2017.
4. Conor McCormack (Cork City)
It says a lot about the impact McCormack has had on Leeside that even since Greg Bolger returned from injury, last season’s stand-in captain has been unable to regain his place in the holding midfield role. The former Shamrock Rovers and Derry City man started the season by playing in defence, before moving into midfield and successfully nullifying the impact of Patrick McEleney during last month’s top-of-the-table clash with Dundalk. Still only 26, McCormack has become a fans’ favourite at Turner’s Cross while acting as a shield for City’s defence.
5. Karl Sheppard (Cork City)
Although Sean Maguire has generated most of the headlines, Karl Sheppard has done more than any other Cork City attacking player to dispel the myth that the Leesiders are a one-man team. Now in his third season with City, the former Reading striker has thrived in a wide role for the league leaders, scoring six league goals — including this spectacular volley against Bohemians earlier this month.
6. Dylan Connolly (Bray Wanderers)
Securing Connolly’s services for another two years was an important piece of business Bray Wanderers conducted during the off-season, particularly with Dundalk keen to bring him in as a replacement for Daryl Horgan. The 21-year-old winger has been superb since joining the Seagulls from Ipswich Town last season and his excellent form has continued into 2017. Connolly has helped to put Bray in a strong position to challenge for a Europa League spot, chipping in with four league goals so far this season.
7. Barry McNamee (Derry City)
Aaron McEneff, Nicky Low and Nathan Boyle have all looked impressive this season for the Candystripes, but Barry McNamee has been the main man for Kenny Shiels’ side. A gifted player with an excellent left foot, the midfielder has been playing the best football of his career this season since making his debut in 2012. The Donegal native returned from injury to make his first start in four games on Tuesday, scoring a stunning free-kick — his fifth league goal of the season — to rescue a point for his side at home to Limerick.
8. Kieran Sadlier (Sligo Rovers)
Having picked up just two league wins this season, Sligo Rovers haven’t had much to shout about. However, Kieran Sadlier has been a shining light for the Bit O’Red in a difficult campaign so far. The former Ireland U21 winger is likely to attract attention from elsewhere in the League of Ireland — and possibly beyond — when the transfer window opens. The English-born 22-year-old, who had spells with West Ham, St Mirren, Peterborough United and Halifax Town, has scored five league goals this year.
9. Ryan Delaney (Cork City)
Currently on loan from Burton Albion, Delaney’s seamless transition into the heart of the Cork City defence came as a relief to manager John Caulfield, who was forced to contend with the untimely departure of Kenny Browne to Waterford on the eve of the new season. At 20 years of age, Delaney is far from the finished article but he has blossomed while playing alongisde the experienced Alan Bennett, helping the Leesiders to keep eight clean sheets from their 13 competitive games this season. If Delaney is recalled by Burton in the summer, the loss of the Wexford native is likely to be a big blow to City’s title hopes.
10. David McMillan (Dundalk)
Due to injury, McMillan didn’t make his first start of 2017 until Dundalk’s derby win over Drogheda United four weeks ago — which was the Lilywhites’ seventh league game of the season. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old striker has been prolific, scoring six goals in his last six outings for the defending champions.
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League of Ireland LOI perfect ten