Our SSE Airtricity League team of the month for July is packed full of goals.
While July brought disappointment for Irish sides in Europe, on the domestic front Dundalk continued their excellent form and it looks as though it will take something special from the chasing pack for the Lilywhites to fail to retain their SSE Airtricity League crown.
At the opposite end of the table, Bray Wanderers put off-field issues aside and earned nine points from a possible 12, shooting up the table and keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Our SSE Airtricity League Team of the Month features a host of goalscoring midfielders and the league's in-form striker.
With so many attacking players, our defence may have it's work cut out for it, but with a goalkeeper who's only conceded one goal since returning to the division, and a solid defence, we're confident they're up to the task.
Goalkeeper
Peter Cherrie is our No 1 this month. The goalkeeper kept three clean sheets in four games for
Bray Wanderers, helping the Wicklow side move out of the relegation zone during July.
The former Dundalk 'keeper only signed for the Seagulls at the beginning of the month, but managed to record three consecutive shut-outs and went over 340 minutes without conceding before Ciaran Kilduff's scored the winner for Dundalk past the Scot last Friday.
[caption id="attachment_34587" align="aligncenter" width="852"]
Bray 'keeper Peter Cherrie in action for Dundalk last season[/caption]
Defence
At right-back we've included
St Patrick's Athletic captain
Ger O'Brien, who helped his side to two clean sheets in three games during July. The defender was particularly impressive in Pats 2-0 win away to Drogheda, pulling off some crucial clearances.
In central defence, we've selected Connor Kenna. The
Shamrock Rovers' captain scored in his side's comfortable victory over Limerick, before helping the Tallaght based side record a hard fought victory, and clean sheet over Drogheda at Hunk Dorys Park.
[caption id="attachment_34613" align="aligncenter" width="447"]
Conor Kenna wins a header against Cork City's Mark O'Sullivan[/caption]
Brian Gartland starts alongside Kenna in central defence. The
Dundalk defender put in an excellent performance against Cork City in a top of the table clash, almost keeping the league's most in-form striker, Mark O'Sullivan. While, at left-back, we're asking
Niall Cooney to fill-in. The
Bray Wanderers' defender helped his side to three consecutive clean sheets, as the Seagulls put off-field issues aside and moved up the table.
Midfield
In midfield, we're going for
Brandon Miele alongside
Richie Towell, flanked by
Dundalk teammate
Darren Meehan, and
Chris Forrester.
Shamrock Rovers may have only played two SSE Airtricity League fixtures in July but Miele was excellent in both, scoring twice against Limerick in a 4-1 rout, and the only goal against Drogheda United.
The former Newcastle United trainee opened the scoring at Tallaght Stadium with a stunning 30 yard strike against the league's bottom side, Rovers' 200th goal at the stadium.
Miele also scored Rovers' fourth, a well worked passing move, finished off by the 20 year old rounding the keeper and slotting home.
The midfielder also got the winner away to Drogheda last Friday, his sixth goal in his last six appearances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ystE0F2YDk
Alongside Miele we've opted for, unsurprisingly,
Richie Towell. The
Dundalk midfielder is arguably the best player in the country at the moment, and lit up the league with two incredible goals away to Galway United last month.
The first was a free-kick from 30 yards, a sweetly struck effort that gave Galway 'keeper no chance. The former Crumlin United youth player got his second with a wonderful volley, showing fantastic technique to hit a parried corner first time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkSgIj1mhD4
On Towell's right, we've selected
Darren Meenan. The
Dundalk winger scored a brace against away to Louth rivals Drogheda, the second a last minute winner, to give the league leaders three points and Lilywhites' fans local bragging rights.
[caption id="attachment_34597" align="aligncenter" width="767"]
Dundalk scores his first goal of the game against Drogheda[/caption]
On the opposite flank, we're opting for
St Pats' winger
Chris Forrester. The 22 year old was named SSE Airtricity Player of the Month for June, and carried his excellent form into July.
Forrester scored twice in Pats' 3-1 win over Sligo, and another against Galway last Friday, as the Inchicore side took maximum points from their July league fixtures.
He also finished off this excellent passing move during a friendly at Richmond Park against a Manchester City development squad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se-uDNuHzdM
Forwards
Up front we've opted for
Mark O'Sullivan. The
Cork City striker was in red hot form during July, as the Leesiders extended their unbeaten run to 11 games, and kept the pressure on Dundalk at the top of the table.
O'Sullivan scored in Cork's 4-1 victory over Longford, the equaliser against Dundalk in a top of the table clash, and rounded out July with a brace against Bohemians last week at Turner's Cross.
https://twitter.com/corkcityfcnews/status/627200063236898820
We could've easily partnered O'Sullivan with his Cork City strike partner
Karl Sheppard, but we've went for
Bohemians' forward
Ismahil Akinade for his performances which helped the Dublin side secure two valuable wins.
The 20 year old scored Bohs only goal in a crucial win over Sligo at Dalymount, securing a hard fought win, which saw the home side played the majority of the game with 10 players following Anto Murphy's red card.
Akinade continued his good form in Bohs following game, a 4-2 win over Derry City. The Nigerian striker scored and set up Keith Buckley for Bohs second, before being withdraw with a shoulder injury before half-time.
The Gypsies were noticeably poorer for Akinade's absence in the second-half.
