Drogheda United's Freddie Draper youngest this century to win ...
DROGHEDA United centre forward Freddie Draper has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for May after a hugely impressive month in which he hit four Premier Division goals for Kevin Doherty's team.
The 18-year-old, on loan at Weavers Park from Lincoln City, has scored eight goals this season, with half that tally arriving last month as Drogheda picked up two victories and a draw as they battled towards the bottom of the table.
Draper netted in a home draw with Shelbourne before he scored a superb breakaway goal in the Drogs' 2-1 win against champions Tallaght Stadium.
He then hit a brace in a 3-1 home victory over UCD and set up Dylan Grimes' match-clinching goal in that game.
His four-goal haul in May meant he scored more goals in the month than any other player in the division.
The teenager has proved to be a vital cog in Drogheda's machine this term, starting all 20 of their league games.
Remarkably, Draper is the first Drogheda United player to win the award in more than nine years, since Gary O'Neill claimed the accolade in March 2014. He is also the youngest player this century to claim the gong, the last teenager to win it – in August 1999 – was Shamrock Rovers' Shane Robinson who of course also went on to play for the Boynesiders during their glory years.
Draper is the second player from the Drogs to be nominated this season, after Conor Keeley earned a nod in February.
The striker finished first in the vote of SWI members, ahead of another teenager – St Patrick's' Athletic's Sam Curtis - in second. His Saints teammate Chris Forrester, who sits atop the Premier Division's scoring charts, finished third.
Speaking after receiving his award, Draper said: "I'm thrilled. I thought I could have a bit of a chance. I was in a bit of form going into the month, I scored a couple of goals."
On his nomination, he added: "I was happy to see my name and when I found out (he won the award) I was over the moon."
Draper will be leading the attack for Drogheda this Friday night in the Louth derby against Dundalk after a week-long holiday in Malta, where England were in European Qualifiers action.
"It was nice to get away, it was relaxing. I was meant to get tickets, but there was only a certain amount of tickets given out.
"It was better craic when all of the fans pretty much didn't go in the end. They were all in the town, singing. It was pretty lively."
The six-man shortlist for May's Player of the Month award also included Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher, Richie Towell of Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne's Shane Griffin.
