Hat-trick helps Junior claim top scorer crown

A hat-trick on the final night of the season saw Derry City's Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe claim the top scorer crown in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

The English striker's three goal salvo in City's 4-0 home win over Finn Harps saw him overhaul Dundalk’s Pat Hoban to become the league’s Capocannoniere.

Junior’s 14 goals left Hoban in second place on 13, with Michael Duffy third on 12. 

Hoban, who was top scorer last season with 29 goals, came close to scoring in Oriel Park during Dundalk’s 4-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic. His shot hit the post and then Brendan Clarke before going in, with the goal correctly being identified as an own goal. 

Junior’s tally of 14 goals is the lowest total for the top goalscorer in the top flight of the League of Ireland since Mick Byrne was top scorer with just 12 goals in Shamrock Rovers’ title winning 1986/87 season. 

It is just the third time in the last dozen years that the top goal scorer has not breached 20 goals. 

It was Junior’s second hat-trick of the season – having bagged the match ball in Turner’s Cross in June. 

The 25-year-old Junior has played for a myriad of clubs from Gelding Miners Welfare in the East Midlands Counties League, to Turk Ocagi Limasol in North Cyprus to Maldon & Tiptree in the Isthmian League North Division.

He is currently on loan with Derry City from Colchester and his goals were a big part in helping secure the fourth place finish for Candystripes, enough to secure European football at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium next season.

The full scorer list can be found here.



    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