DUNDALK MIDFIELDER PATRICK McEleney has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for June.
The 24-year-old has been in fine form of late, scoring four times in five games, with Dundalk winning all five matches since the mid-season break.
The Derry native, who Dundalk signed from the Candystripes in December 2015, has scored some spectacular goals of late, and cites the recent wonderstrike against Drogheda (see below) as his favourite.
It’s always nice to get individual awards and it’s my first one, but the team are playing really well since the break and that’s the most important thing,” he said, after the news was announced.
“I got four in four and then didn’t manage to score against Bohemians. The one against Drogheda, the chip, that kicked it all off for me. I think that would be my favourite goal that I scored. It kick-started a good run for me and gave me confidence.
The defeat to Cork just before the break was tough to take. We had to go away, come back and put our heads down, which we have done. We’ve been playing really well since the break.”
The Lilywhites face Rosenborg in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round at Oriel Park tomorrow night, with McEleney expected to be involved.
We’ve put a lot of work in behind the scenes like we always do and we’re really looking forward to the game now,” he added.
McEleney overcame competition for the top prize from Cork’s Preston-bound striker Sean Maguire and Bohemians midfielder Keith Ward, who finished second and third respectively.
Another moment of McEleney magic... Catch up on all of the weekend's LOI action on #SoccerRepublic, Monday, @RTE2, 11pm pic.twitter.com/EI0kpf4ljq
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) June 18, 2017
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Nonsense, they just didn’t want to give it to yet another City player. Seanie scored at hat-trick away at Dundalk while McEleny was anonymous. He can go home and tell his girlfriend and his pals what a great man he is but he’ll know it belongs to Maguire.
@Seán Ó Murchú: yeah,but we can’t have it all
@Seán Ó Murchú: sean it is people like you who give the thousands of cork fans a bad image… great city great club and will be deserving champions this year but you like a few other city fans are really bitter towards dundalk. Suppose I dont blame you, living in our shadow for the past 3 seasons. We accept that we are 2nd beat this season like cork have been for the past 3 seasons.
@Niall Hearty: I feel nothing of the sort for Dundalk, went to cheer them on in numerous games in Europe last year. Just pointing out what I believe to be a very poor decision. How can you score a hat-trick away to the 3 in a row champions in a month with limited fixtures due to the break and not win POTM?
Fair dues,good goals,city fan