Extratime.ie announce April Player/Manager of the Month Awards

Shamrock Rovers’ striker Gary Twigg has been named by extratime.ie as their Premier Division Player of the Month for April. The 25-year-old Scot netted seven times in five league games in April, which included a game winning hat-trick away to Galway United. His late strike against Cork City secured a valuable point for his side, before he went on to net a double against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Cork City manager Paul Doolin has picked up the extratime.ie Premier Division Manager of the Month award after his side went unbeaten in April, only dropping points in the 1-1 draw against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght. Cork began the month in impressive style, defeating title holders Bohemians 1-0 in Dalymount Park, before notching important wins over Drogheda United, Dundalk and Galway United.

Speaking to Extratime.ie on receiving the award, Doolin was quick to praise his team on their April success.

“You need the team to be organised, not just the defence. We’ve had three clean sheets on the trot in the league and no matter what league you’re in, 19 points from 21 is excellent. The boys have been great, I have to say. Manager of the Month awards are not something that I look out for at the start of the year, but I think it’s great. I accept it, but at the end it’s about the players. They’re the ones who go out and perform on the pitch, which they certainly have done the past month.”

In the First Division, Waterford United manager Stephen Henderson was named by extratime.ie as April Manager of the Month after he guided his side to a maximum 12 points, conceding only one goal in the process and scoring 12. Talking to extratime.ie, Henderson was quick to point out the success was not just down to him.

“This award is for the entire management team here in Waterford. Each member has put in a huge effort so far this season, and the hard work has paid off in April. It is however only early in the league, and whilst we are going well now, there are still 20+ games left”

One of the key reasons for Waterford’s success was the good form shown by Player of the Month Graham Cummins, who found the net seven times, including four goals in a 6-0 hammering of Monaghan United. He too pointed to the team effort when he accepted the award.

“I’m really delighted to get the award, but it should be remembered that my strike partner Willie Joe Kiely is high up in the goal charts. Our goals are down to the great chances that the rest of the team have been carving out.”



Cork City Photo taken by Eric Barry
Shamrock Rovers Photo taken by Fergus McNally
Waterford United Photos taken by John Kehoe