Daryl Horgan named SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association Player of the Month for September

Daryl Horgan has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for September.

The midfielder won the award ahead of Sean Maguire of Cork City and Bray Wanderers’ Ger Pender who came second and third respectively.

September was an exciting month for the Lilywhites as not only did the Louth outfit amass 13 points from a possible 15 in the month but also their run in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup continued with a quarter final victory away to UCD, while the month will mostly be remembered for a remarkable late Ciaran Kilduff goal which earned a point away in Alkmaar before closing the month out with an enthralling victory against Israeli giants Maccabi Tel-Aviv at Tallaght Stadium.

Horgan may have only netted once last month, but his attractive midfield play both domestically and in both Europa League ties caught the eye of the large majority of the nation’s football support.

Horgan even impressed national team boss Martin O’Neill, who has been to watch the Lilywhites a number of times since their European adventure gathered pace and O’Neill even admitted that if perhaps, Dundalk’s fixture schedule wasn’t so frantic, the Galwegian may have been considered for a place in the national team squad.

The tricky winger is just one of four Lilywhites to have been awarded  the Player of the Month accolade this season, something Horgan was quick to point at shortly after receiving the award from Anne McAreavey of SSE Airtricity.

“Ronan Finn, Robbie Benson and David McMillan have won one this season too. It just shows how well we’re doing as a team,” said Horgan, who picks up the award for a second time this campaign.

Horgan was instrumental as Stephen Kenny’s men got one hand on the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division trophy on Tuesday night, as his early free kick cannoned off the cross-bar before hitting City shot-stopper Mark McNulty and finding its way into the net, while in the later stages of the half, he picked up the ball in his own half before coasting into the penalty area and unleashing an unstoppable drive on the way to helping his side to a vital 2-1 win at Oriel Park which put them four points clear at the top of the division.

However, Horgan insisted that his teammates know they’ve won nothing yet.

“We have some very tough games left,” explained Horgan.

“It’s basically five cup finals. We have Shamrock Rovers up next and we know that won’t be easy because they need a win to guarantee Europe."

Horgan concluded by answering questions about his international future, insisting it's not just himself that Martin O’Neill should be watching.

“There has been a lot of talk but that’s all it is,” added Horgan.

“It’s been a good year so far. But I’m quite confident that Martin O’Neill is looking at a few players in the league, not only me.

“There is a lot of quality throughout the league but you never know.”