Goalkeeper
Conor O’Malley (St Patrick’s Athletic) – Saints boss Liam Buckley lauded his goalkeeper after the 21-year-old Mayo man kept a clean sheet and saved to penalties in a shootout to help Pat’s win the EA Sports Cup on Saturday.
Defence
Lee Desmond (St Patrick’s Athletic) - An excellent display from the young defender at Eamonn Deacy Park, who was solid at the back but also dangerous going forward — shooting into the side-netting with decent effort just before half-time.
Noel Haverty (Longford Town) – The defender put in a solid performance and popped up to head home a vital equaliser before later clearing the ball off the line from an Ismahil Akinade effort.
Dean Jarvis (Derry City) - The Candystripes got off to a winning start under caretaker boss Paul Hegarty after Peter’s Hutton recent sacking thanks to a headed goal from Jarvis at home to Shamrock Rovers.
Midfield
Daryl Horgan (Dundalk) – The winger scored for the second successive home win and was fully deserving of his goal. He made Towell’s second too and was a constant menance as Dundalk came at their opponents time and time again. Horgan’s threat even showed in Mark Kinsella’s team selection, with Drogheda moving regular right back Mick Daly into midfield to faciliate a quicker option.
Richie Towell (Dundalk) - When a central midfielder scores four goals in 45 minutes and subsequently brings his season tally to 23 goals in all competitions, he’s a shoo-in for Team of the Week selections. Richie Towell was imperious in central midfield. There’s so much more to his game than goalscoring exploits. But his three stunning finishes from open play at Oriel Park stole the limelight and won the points for Dundalk.
Ryan McEvoy (Bray Wanderers) - The former Bohemians man took his goal goals extremely well as he drew Bray level on two occasions to earn them a valuable point against resurgent Limerick at the Carlisle Grounds.
Paddy Kavanagh (Bohemians) – The Gypsies midfielder brought some much-needed quality into the game five minutes before half-time — beating Ayman Ben Mohamed and Rhy Gorman before firing hom the opener in their draw with Longford Town.
Brandon Miele (Shamrock Rovers) – Rovers top scorer was the main threat for the Hoops throughout and he came so close to breaking the deadlock after just seven minutes only to be denied by a great save from Gerard Doherty who was quick off his line. Miele then set up Damien Duffy with a neat pass late in the game but Doherty again produced the save.
Forwards
Vinny Faherty (Limerick) — The striker was only awarded SWAI/Airtricity Player of the Month last week for his superb form in August, and he celebrated with a brilliant volley in the 2-2 draw with Bray.
David McMillan (Dundalk) – Worked the line tirelessly for the champions elect and got the goal his performance deserved midway through the second half.
