Derry City's Michael Duffy named SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland June player of the month
The 30 year-old topped the poll and edged out 37-year-old Padraig Amond (Waterford FC) by a mere four points with Dayle Rooney of Bohemians a distant third.
The Derry-born Duffy, who previously played with Celtic's development squad and had loan spells at Alloa Athletic and Dundee was capped nine times at U21 level for Northern Ireland.
A product of the Derry City youth system, he won a league and FAI Cup double with Dundalk in 2018 and was named the PFAI Players' Player of the Year at the end of that season.
"The mindset in the squad is special at the minute," said Duffy, who is closing in on 150 appearances for his home town club.
"We are treating every game as it if were a cup final and I think we are moving in the right direction.
"Success does not come overnight to any team, but having missed out on a possible league and FAI Cup double last year, we are using that as motivation now."
Duffy won two league titles, two FAI Cups, a League Cup and President's Cup titles with Dundalk and also did an FAI Cup double with his beloved Candystripes, in 2012 and 2022.
So far this season, the Brandywell hero has made 23 appearances for the Foylesiders, netting eight goals and nine assists from his left-wing position, and he has been to the forefront of his team's campaign in June scoring the winner away to Shelbourne.
"June has been a brilliant month for us even though we had a wee dip in form before the mid-season break but we are flying again now with four wins in-a-row and we are in a great position in the title race.
"It's a nine-point gap but that is not insurmountable for us and we are exactly where we want to be at this stage.
"It's been great for me to come back and play in front of the Brandywell crowd again. I had a few unbelievable years at Dundalk and I will never forget them but to get success at Derry now would mean more to me.
"I have another year to run on my contract, but to end my career at my home town club, would be ideal and it would be special for me. I have come back to my roots."
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