Derry City’s Jamie McGonigle has been named as the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for April.
McGonigle, in his first full season with the Candystripes following last June’s transfer from Crusaders, finds himself atop this season’s scoring charts, having nine goals to his name thus far.
The Derry City frontman earned over half of those goals in the month of April, netting five, three of which came in a triumphant 7-1 win over UCD.
The league’s top scorer pipped Shamrock Rovers’ Andy Lyons, who finished second in voting and teammate Will Patching, who finished third to the award.
In a press release put on the league website this morning, McGonigle said “I’m delighted to win. “It’s good recognition for the month that I’ve had and the goals that I’ve scored. Some of the nominees that were there, the quality of players, I am delighted it was me who was selected.”
“The hat-trick against UCD helped massively as I was on a drought. It’s not that I wasn’t playing well but I just wasn’t scoring goals so that gave me my confidence back. I then got another two against St Pat’s the following week.
“I always set myself a target for 20 goals and I’m on nine from 14 games at the moment so I am on target to hit that 20.”
This is the first time that a Derry City player has won the award since Barry McNamee did so in April 2013.
Speaking to the Derry Journal, McGonigle’s manager Ruaidhrí Higgins expressed his delight with his player winning the award:
“It’s been a long time coming. Jamie has been brilliant since he’s come to the club.”
“He’s in and around one goal in two for us and he’s a brilliant footballer who creates chances for us.
“He’s been a brilliant signing for the club and physically got himself into a really good place which he needs to keep on top of. He’s doing everything in his power to be the best centre forward in this league and he’s been a brilliant player for us.
Higgins empahsised the importance of McGonigle continuing his good form ahead of tomorrow’s huge clash with title rivals Shamrock Rovers:
“Hopefully he can cap off a good week after getting player of the month by going down and maybe getting us a goal on Friday night.”
Derry travel to Tallaght Stadium tomorrow to take on Shamrock Rovers in a massive game in the title race.
