Patrick Hoban completed a brilliant month for himself and the club by being named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for June.
The 31-year-old Lilywhites captain enjoyed one of the best months in his career by hitting six goals in June as Dundalk won four games.
The striker hit a hat-trick against UCD on the May Bank Holiday as Dundalk embarked on a five-match winning streak to close out the month.
That included the Louth Derby victory against Drogheda at Weavers Park where Hoban scored twice in three minutes to turn the game on its head. He then ended June by scoring a header in the Lilywhites’ 2-0 win over champions Shamrock Rovers.
Hoban’s first goal against local rivals Drogheda United was his 143rd in a Dundalk shirt and saw him overtake the record of former Ireland international Joey Donnelly, which had lasted for 76 years.
Four of the striker’s six goals in the month were headers which is as many as any other player has scored all season. Only champions Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic outscored Hoban’s tally over the course of the month.
In a vote of SWI members, Hoban topped the poll with Shamrock Rovers attacker Rory Gaffney in second. Archie Davies of Dundalk finished third.
His win marks the fourth time that Hoban has claimed the Player of the Award, having last won it exactly five years ago in July 2018. Before that, the centre forward won the award in July 2013 and November 2014.
Only Richie Towell (five) has won more Player of the Month awards than Hoban whilst playing for Dundalk.
Speaking after receiving his award, Hoban said: “If we have a good month as a team, then individuals will get nominated for Player of the Month.
“Our performances in June were very good, they were a lot more consistent and playing at a level the gaffer wants us to play at. We’ve definitely turned a corner since the break.”
He added: “It was obviously a really good month but the team playing well helps me play well. We’ve worked on getting a lot more crosses into the box and that’s how I score my goals. That’s definitely helped me get more opportunities to score goals and last month I definitely took them.”
The six-man shortlist for June’s Player of the Month award also featured Ben McCormack (St Patrick’s Athletic), Sean Boyd (Shelbourne) and James Clarke (Bohemians).
