Gormley’s on the March

Joe Gormley has this morning been named March’s Player of the Month by the NI Football Writers’ Association.

The striker scored six goals in as many appearances to help Cliftonville rediscover their form in the Danske Bank Premiership and make progress to the Tennent’s Irish Cup Final.

“It was a really good month both for me personally and for the team as a whole,” says Gormley.

“I scored six goals in six games which isn’t bad for a striker but I couldn’t do anything without the support and supply from my team-mates, so this award is on behalf of those team-mates.

“We have important games from now until the end of the season when we play Coleraine in the Irish Cup Final. Europe is our goal one way or the other and we must work hard and stay focused to get there.”

Gormley’s stunning chipped strike in last Saturday’s Irish Cup victory over Loughgall has, meanwhile, earned the Football Writers’ Goal of the Month gong.

Receiving possession just inside the opposition half after 24 minutes of the tie, the 28-year-old dinked the ball over a defender’s head and into Rory Donnelly’s path before setting off on a clever run that saw him pick up a return pass and execute an inch-perfect chip over goalkeeper Gareth Buchanan.

You can watch Gormley’s effort – his 150th for the Club and which will now be automatically shortlisted for Goal of the Season – on the BBC’s highlights reel here.

Today’s double-header of NIFWA honours come at the end of a busy week of personal accolades for the striker who, in addition to helping the Reds book their place in the Irish Cup Final, was voted the Sean Graham Player of the Month for March by Cliftonville fans and is also part of an online poll for Ulster Footballer of the Year, which you can support by lending him your backing here.