Sligo Rovers double up as Keena and Doherty claim POTM awards

Sligo Rovers pair Aidan Keena and Emma Doherty have been rewarded for fine individual performances with Player of the Month awards.

Keena was named as the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Ireland Player of the Month for July while Doherty won the SSE Airtricity WNL Player of the Month for June/July 2022.

Striker Keena bagged a brace against Shelbourne, and went on to score crucial goals away to Bala Town and Motherwell as the Bit O'Red progressed to the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

It is 23-year-old Keena’s second time winning the award, having previously claimed it in March.

Doherty, playing in her debut season, scored twice in the 3-2 win over champions Shelbourne and the Donegal native already has nine league goals to her name this season. She has also been crucial in helping Sligo to the semi-finals of the EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup.

"It's brilliant to win the Player of the Month award again," Keena said of his award, with St Patrick’s Athletic goalkeeper Joseph Anang - whose loan spell with the Saints has since ended - runner-up in the voting and Shamrock Rovers forward Rory Gaffney third.

"If your team is doing well you’re always going to get chances as a striker. We hit a good bit of form, and I got a few chances and put them away, thank God.

"Going into any season, your aim is to be up there for the top goal-scorer. Hopefully by the end of it, I’ll still be there."

"I was delighted to be nominated never mind win it because the league’s full of internationals and some big experienced players. It’s massive achievement for me," 18-year-old Doherty said of her own award.