Hoops' Graham Burke scoops double player of the month award

Shamrock Rovers attacker Graham Burke has added the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland player of the month award to his own club’s award for March.

 

The 24-year-old scored six league goals last month including four in one match against Derry, the winner from the penalty spot in Limerick and an eye-catching strike against Waterford.

 

He became the first Rovers player to score four goals in game since Stephen Geoghegan managed the feat against Waterford United in November 1992.

 

Burke currently sits top of the Premier Division Top Scorer chart with seven goals in total for 2018 – three more than he scored in an injury curtailed season last year.

 

“It’s my first award so I’m delighted,” said Burke. “I scored six goals over the month so it was a good return for me personally and I’m thrilled to get this.

 



“Overall, it’s been a bit up and down for us so far this season. We had a slow start but we’ve been on a good run of form since bar one or two results.

 

“We haven’t really been winning the games against the teams around us, games we’ve needed to win, and that has been the most disappointing thing.

 

“But we’ll see those teams again this season so we’ll have a chance to put those results right.”

 



The Hoops' home form has kept them in touching distance of the teams at the top of the table.

 

Rovers have won four and drawn one of their home games as they look to lift a trophy for the first time in Tallaght since 2013.

 

Burke’s injury in September last season was a significant factor in the Hoops failing to secure any major silverware in 2017.

 

Without the player who scored ten goals in all competitions, Dundalk defeated Rovers in both the EA Sports Cup final and the FAI Cup semi-final (after extra time in the replayed semi).

 

“As a team, we want to win everything we can. That’s the ambition and that’s what we’ll try to do. Obviously we want to win the league and everything else.

 

“It’s about doing the best we can. I have a few personal targets in my mind but I’ll keep them to myself.”

 

Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers, in the month where he made his 500th League of Ireland appearance, finished second in the voting, while Waterford striker Courtney Duffus, who scored either side of Burke in the Blues' 2-1 win over the Hoops last month, was third.

 

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile