Galway United attacker Moses Dyer scoops Player of the Month award for April
GALWAY UNITED ATTACKER Moses Dyer has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month award for April.
The 28-year-old Kiwi finished ahead of Drogheda United's Warren Davis and Jack Byrne of Shamrock Rovers, becoming the first player from New Zealand to win the monthly award.
Dyer scored half of his season's tally of eight goals in April, recording back-to-back braces in a 2-2 draw at Shelbourne and in a 2-1 home win over Drogheda United.
The 28-year-old is currently the top scorer in the Premier Division with eight goals, two clear of Drogheda's Davis, Derry City's Michael Duffy, and Owen Elding of Sligo Rovers.
Advertisement
Dyer received almost twice as many votes as each of the runners up to win the award upon his second nomination.
'I am feeling good and it's good to get nominated twice but even better to go and win the award,' Dyer said. 'I think April was my best month so far playing for Galway United.
'It's been a long journey for me playing in so many different countries but Ireland is my favourite so far. It's taken me a while to get used to the weather here but I have settled in and it's great working with my manager, John (Caulfield) and the coaching staff here.
'It's amazing in that I get to travel the world to play football,' Dyer added. 'I have the best job in the world and there's nothing more to say really. It's the best thing ever and that's why I have come to Ireland. I never thought I'd ever come to Ireland and now I am playing here and living in Galway.'
Born in Palmerston North, the attacker Dyer wears the No.9 shirt for the Tribesmen. He started his career at the Auckland City youth academy before going on to play for Flora in Norway, Valour in Canada, and Vancouver FC in America before coming to the west of Ireland.
Dyer, who has been capped on 11 occasions by New Zealand, was Valour's all-time leading goal-scorer and he brings a wealth of global experience to Galway.
He scored 19 goals in 54 appearances for Valour during his spell in Canada in 2021.
Speaking of Galway United's recent results, he said, 'We had a little dip in form lately losing to Waterford, Bohemians and St Pat's and we have dropped to eighth in the table but we're still only six points off the top.
'We need to go on another little run and get right back up the table.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
a day ago
- The 42
Ryan Manning's reinvention key to Ireland's improvements under Hallgrimsson
HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON HAS effected a gradual improvement in the team he has inherited by making a couple of major changes. Ireland played a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 for the vast majority of Stephen Kenny's tenure, and his successor has retained a version of this when Ireland have possession, though his back three looks more like a 3-4-2-1. Without the ball, Ireland line up in a fairly standard 4-4-2. The player who best sums up Ireland's newfound flexibility is Ryan Manning. When Manning first caught the eye as a player with Galway United and with the Irish underage teams, he was a pure creator, playing in advanced attacking areas, usually as a No.10. Under Russell Martin, first at Swansea and then at Southampton, Manning began retreating back up the pitch, playing left wing-back, then left-back and, occasionally, as the left centre-back at a back three. That Manning would end up as a centre back flabbergasted those who worked with him years earlier in Ireland. Kenny gave Manning his senior Irish debut against Bulgaria in 2020, and subsequently used him primarily as a left-back and left wing-back. With Enda Stevens and Robbie Brady dogged by injuries, Manning had openings to make the position his own, but never did. In 11 caps under Kenny, Manning completed 90 minutes only three times. Advertisement Hallgrimsson, though, has unlocked Manning's best performances in an Irish jersey by going back to the future: he sees Manning as a creative attacking player, and not a left-back. And so against Senegal on Friday night, Manning started as the left winger in Ireland's, on-paper, 4-4-2. But once Ireland had the ball, Manning drifted in-field to play as one of two number 10s, with Robbie Brady pushing higher to play at left wing-back. His link-up play with Brady is key to how Ireland want to play. Manning is unafraid to drop deep into midfield to collect possession when Ireland are working their way across from the opposite flank, from where he can link up with Brady, who can whip crosses into the box or find a runner in behind. (Hallgrimsson primarily asks his starting forward to run in behind rather than dropping off: it's why Adam Idah and Troy Parrott have been picked for this role with Evan Ferguson picked in a slightly deeper role.) And given Manning's experience at left-back, Brady can attack knowing he has cover behind him should the move break down. (Stopping counter-attacks is a massive area of improvement under Hallgrimsson, as we covered in March.) Ireland's combination play down the left flank yielded their first goal against Bulgaria in Plovdiv earlier this year, and it was Manning who created Ireland's goal against Senegal, deftly flicking the ball back into the box for Nathan Collins to nod on to Kasey McAteer, after Senegal half-cleared an Irish corner. 'He is a genuine good player but the best thing for me is that he can play more than one position', says Hallgrimsson of Manning. 'That helps us a lot in how we want to play. We want players to take action and then [for others] to fill up and react to that position. Him and Robbie have done a good job playing together. 'He is growing in this role that we have given him, he is getting to start game after game now so you can see his understanding of the tactics. He is a player who can create and is quick. For me also when Robbie is higher he can drop in and be the left back so that is really a good positive thing, their cooperation has been really good.' It was notable that once Manning was withdrawn against Senegal midway through the second half, Ireland grew more deep: they missed his quality and security on the ball, and ultimately fell into a low block. Defending from that low block remains a concern under Hallgrimsson: they have kept only one clean sheet under their new manager, at home to Finland, and that game required Caoimhín Kelleher to save a penalty. 'We are conceding goals from crosses too many times and in this case we were too passive in the cross', said Hallgrimsson about Senegal's late equaliser. 'We didn't attack the ball when the cross came and it has happened before. That is a slight confidence thing.' That facet of the game has to be improved upon by the time World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September, and a key target for Tuesday's friendly in Luxembourg will be to keep a clean sheet. Manning, meanwhile, was not the only Irish player asked to play a different role for Ireland on Friday night. Though Adam Idah plays up front for Celtic too, his job spec for Ireland is very different to that which is designed by Brendan Rodgers. 'Adam deserved to start', said Hallgrimsson, 'and he did a solid performance, his workrate was I thought better than often before. 'Because we need a lot of defending from our strikers and he's just not used to it at Celtic when they have their possession at say 60/70/80 percent in games. So the space he needs to work on in games is small. It's a switch and hopefully players are learning more and more and he is growing. He knows what we expect so that's a positive sign.' There are abundant positive signs, with Ryan Manning's recent performances chief among them.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Drogheda United coach claims ‘Drogs should be treated the same as PSG' by Uefa over European participation debacle
DAIRE Doyle insisted Uefa must treat Drogheda United like they would Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. Drogs Advertisement 2 Drogheda United were crowned FAI Cup champions to earn a place in European Qualifications 2 The 44-year-old is hoping Drogheda United will be allowed compete in Europe Both clubs are owned by the US-based Trivela Group, who also own Walsall, and Uefa has strict rules regarding multi-club ownership models and competing in Europe. And the Drogs' position is in peril as rules dictate that where there is joint ownership, the club that finished lower in their league is the one to miss out. There are precedents from the past. Manchester City put their 47 per cent ownership of Spanish outfit Girona in blind trust so both clubs could compete in the Champions League. And Uefa are in discussions with Trivela — Crystal Palace and Lyon are in a similar situation — with a ruling expected next week. Advertisement Read more on Irish football Assistant boss Doyle said that it is important that Drogheda get the same treatment as any European giant. He said: 'You'd hope the procedures should follow. Drogheda should be treated the same as PSG. I know the club have been in contact with Uefa over the past number of months, they're doing all they can. 'And they've let me know that they're hopeful that we can see a positive outcome to it all. 'There has been work done over a period of time to do what we need to do to find a solution to it. Advertisement Most read in Football 'People will speculate on the bad side rather than the good side. If you take history, there are clubs and ownership models similar to ourselves where both clubs have been in competitions and in some cases the same competition. 'So we can take that precedent that has been set over the last few years and we will be hopeful that will be no different to ourselves. Watch Robbie Brady aim hilarious dig at Ireland teammates after winning Player of the Year award 'Obviously until that does come out, you are going to have the people of Drogheda, supporters, players — everyone is going to talk until a decision is there. That is to be expected.' Doyle acknowledged that it has been something Trivela have been looking into since they first proposed buying 80 per cent of Silkeborg in December. Advertisement That was a month after the Drogs secured European football by DISTANT RELATIVES And Doyle admitted that, while both clubs have the same owners, there have been few dealings between them. He said: 'There wouldn't be too much contact with Silkeborg to be honest. "The Walsall one, there would be more of a link there because obviously we've had players on loan from them, they've come over and played against us last year. Advertisement 'It was a situation that could arise with another top-level country, so it was something I'm sure Trivela were aware could arise and they have been talking over the last couple of months. 'Hopefully we are in a position where ourselves and Silkeborg can both play in Europe.' Meanwhile, Doyle was pleased that the Drogs have got a home draw for when their FAI Cup defence begins next month. They will host Leinster Senior League outfit Crumlin United. Doyle knows the league well as his son Jack plays for Home Farm, and he has regularly seen Crumlin this season. Advertisement The Drogs assistant said: 'I've seen quite a few games this year, they've quite a few good players. James Lee is an excellent manager and former player as well. 'We're really happy we got a home draw, that's the most important thing. 'We'll do our homework on Crumlin now and make sure we find out as much as we can about them before the game.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Drogheda assistant boss Daire Doyle ‘confident' club's European dreams won't be dashed as talks with Uefa continue
Drogheda United discovered their FAI Cup second round date yesterday – they have Crumlin United at home with a potential €700k bounty awaiting them should they retain it.
