WITH THE HELP of our reporters who have been keeping a close eye on the Premier Division action, we’ve compiled our SSE Airtricity League team of the month for August.

Disagree with our selections? Of course you do. Feel free to use the comments section to let us know who you think should have been included…

Goalkeeper

Ciaran Gallagher (Finn Harps)

Ciaran Gallagher punches the ball clear during Finn Harps' 1-0 defeat to Cork City. John McVitty / INPHO John McVitty / INPHO / INPHO

Don’t be fooled by the lack of clean sheets. The 25-year-old stopper delivered several outstanding displays for the relegation battlers in August, none more so than in the 1-0 defeat to league leaders Cork City.

Defenders

Sean Gannon (Dundalk)

Consistency personified, the reliable full-back rarely puts a foot wrong and contributed significantly to Dundalk’s four clean sheets last month.

Jordi Balk (St Patrick’s Athletic)

The 23-year-old Dutch import is proving to have been a very astute acquisition by the Saints. Another batch of solid displays from Balk, who makes our team for the second month in a row.

Lee Grace (Shamrock Rovers)

Lee Grace in possession for Shamrock Rovers. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

He came to Rovers at the end of July accompanied by plenty of hype which was generated by supporters of his previous club Galway United. It hasn’t taken long for Hoops fans to see why manager Stephen Bradley was so keen on him.

Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers)

One of the stars of the season, Clarke’s marauding runs are a threat whether he’s on the left side of defence or the right side of midfield. Rovers can expect plenty of interest in the 19-year-old’s services as time goes by.

Midfielders

Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers)

Since he returned from Dundalk, there’s been a feeling in Tallaght that the best is yet to come from Finn. Despite his red card against Shelbourne in the FAI Cup, the playmaker has been reminding observers why he’s one of the league’s most highly-regarded talents.

Gearoid Morrissey (Cork City)

The league leaders are going through a rough patch but the former Blackburn Rovers and Cambridge United player continues to produce the goods in the middle of the park for his hometown club.

Bastien Hery (Limerick)

August was a good month for Limerick's Bastien Hery. INPHO / Oisin Keniry  INPHO / Oisin Keniry  / Oisin Keniry 

After a relatively slow start to life on Shannonside, the Frenchman proved his worth with a string of excellent performances in August as Limerick picked up an important league win over Bohemians and progressed to the last eight of the FAI Cup.

Robbie Benson (Dundalk)

One of Dundalk’s unsung heroes, Benson continued his excellent form this season by chipping in with four goals from midfield last month.

Forwards

Ronan Murray (Galway United)

If Galway are to avoid relegation, Murray’s contribution will be crucial. In addition to his FAI Cup hat-trick against Killester United, the former Ipswich Town striker scored three times in the league.

David McMillan (Dundalk)

David McMillan celebrates after scoring against Derry City in the first round of the FAI Cup. Ciaran Culligan / INPHO Ciaran Culligan / INPHO / INPHO

Following Sean Maguire’s departure to Preston, the 28-year-old Dubliner is now the leading goalscorer currently playing in the SSE Airtricity League after finding the net three times in August.

Subs:

Brendan Clarke (Limerick)
Conor Kenna (Bray Wanderers)
Brian Gartland (Dundalk)
John Mountney (Dundalk)
Craig Roddan (Sligo Rovers)
Michael Duffy (Dundalk)
Gary Shaw (Shamrock Rovers)

3 winners and losers from Ireland’s latest international week

‘Dunphy was talking nonsense. If Hoolahan was that good he’d be starting for Norwich every week’