IT IS NO surprise that Patrick McEleney and Stephen Kenny struck up a winning combination at Dundalk this season, with the manager having given the forward his debut at Derry City aged 17.
But the consistent rate at which the 25-year-old managed to produce goal of the season contenders in the Premier Division this season took everyone by surprise.
It soon became a running gag, with supporters at Oriel Park and elsewhere sitting back in awe at the player’s ingenuity and precision whether from inside the box or striking from distance.
It started with a sweet free-kick against Sligo in May and ended last Friday against Galway with a sublime chip at Eamonn Deacy Park on the final night of the season.
With each passing week the player managed to concoct a new piece of individual brilliance.
Dundalk finished second behind Cork City in Premier Division this season, played in Champions League qualifiers, won the EA Sports Cup and reached the FAI Cup final for a third year running — while McEleney himself also received the Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month award for June.
With the possibility of a move abroad spreading across the gossip columns following his fine form in 2017, McEleney’s goals are there to be savoured. Here are five of his best from this season:
1. Drogheda United 0-6 Dundalk, 16 June
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
2. Dundalk 3-0 St Patrick’s Athletic, 18 March
A goal to watch over and over again - Patrick McEleney's moment of brilliance against St Pat's #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/nYqhj1WJZd
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 21, 2017
3. Bray Wanderers 0-3 Dundalk, 30 June
Another cracker from @DundalkFC's Patrick McEleney. More on @SoccRepublic this Monday. From 6.30pm @RTEplayer or 10.55pm @RTE2 #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/LDUl0AyFWl
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 1, 2017
4. Dundalk 1-0 Limerick, 10 March
5. Galway United 3-4 Dundalk, 27 October
Patrick McEleney. Worth the RTE license fee. #AintNobody pic.twitter.com/X6kDG9zv32
— Gavin McLaughlin (@DundalkSport) October 27, 2017
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