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 April.
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
Peter Cherrie (Bray Wanderers)
Important saves from Cherrie helped Bray to pick up big wins over Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers, while the Scottish stopper was also in outstanding form on Friday as he kept his side in the game against Cork City at Turner’s Cross.
Defenders
Alan Bennett (Cork City)
He might be the oldest outfield player in the Premier Division but the 35-year-old remains a key component of a Cork City side that has set the standard in 2017.
Ryan Delaney (Cork City)
Goalkeeper Mark McNulty has been as reliable as ever, but 20-year-old Delaney — who’s on loan from Burton Albion — played a vital role as City conceded just once in 360 minutes of Premier Division football last month.
Robbie Williams (Limerick)
The Blues have the second-best defence in the Premier Division and the 32-year-old Englishman was the main man at the back as Limerick went undefeated in the league in April, leaking just three goals in five games.
Midfielders
Gary McCabe (Bray Wanderers)
Traditionally a winger, McCabe has thrived with the freedom to roam that he’s been afforded by Bray boss Harry Kenny, who the 28-year-old repaid with five league goals last month to move to the top of the goalscoring charts with 11 in total.
Conor McCormack (Cork City)
The former Manchester United trainee has been a revelation since arriving at Turner’s Cross this season, playing the holding role so well that he’s been keeping Greg Bolger — City’s talisman and stand-in captain in 2016 — out of the team since he returned from injury.
Garry Buckley (Cork City)
Buckley scored in each of his three league appearances in April, including a sublime finish in the 3-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic, but the injury that forced him out of Friday’s win over Bray will be a concern to City manager John Caulfield.
Kieran Sadlier (Sligo Rovers)
One of the most gifted footballers currently playing in the League of Ireland, the former Irish U21 international took his league tally for the season to five with two more goals in April — including an equaliser in the Connacht derby against Galway United.
Forwards
Karl Sheppard (Cork City)
His contribution has been somewhat overshadowed by the exploits of team-mate Sean Maguire, but Sheppard has excelled in a wide role for the Leesiders, for whom he scored three times in the league in April, the pick of which was a goal-of-the-season contender against Bohemians.
David McMillan (Dundalk)
The 28-year-old missed the start of the season due to injury but he has scored six goals in his last six outings for the defending champions, four of which came last month.
Stephen Dooley (Cork City)
One of Cork City’s unsung heroes, Dooley may not score very many, but with his pace and trickery, the former Derry City winger is a constant thorn in the side of opposing defences down the left flank.
Substitutes
Mark McNulty (Cork City)
Colm Horgan (Galway United)
Kevin O’Connor (Cork City)
Fuad Sule (Bohemians)
Dylan Connolly (Bray Wanderers)
Michael Duffy (Dundalk)
Chiedozie Ogbene (Limerick)
