Stevie Bradley wins League of Ireland Player of the Month award as Hibs loanee shines for Dundalk

The teenage winger netted on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Derry City and scored the equaliser in another 2-2 draw with Bohemians the following week.

He scored twice and set up the third in a 3-0 victory over Finn Harps at Oriel Park as the Lilywhites finished the month unbeaten in the league.

Bradley saw off competition from former Aberdeen midfielder Chris Forrester of St Patrick’s Athletic; Bohs winger Promise Omichere; Derry City striker Jamie McGonigle; Sligo Rovers ‘keeper Ed McGinty, who had a spell at Hibs as a youth, and Shamrock Rovers’ ex-Kilmarnock midfielder Jack Byrne.

Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell said of Bradley’s nomination: “Steven came over late in pre-season and if you had asked us – and him – would he get four goals in his first three league games then we would have probably said that would be a bit unrealistic, but he has.

“The important thing is for him to keep it going now, from a mental standpoint. If he does that, and his application is good, then he already has the hard stuff, which is the ability, and he will continue to make an impression.”

Bradley and Dundalk are next in action on Friday when they travel to face Damien Duff’s Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

The 19-year-old registered two goals and three assists in 19 games on loan at Ayr United in the first half of the 2021/22 season but a substitute appearance for the Easter Road side in a 2-0 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead meant he was limited in his options for going out on loan, being unable to play for more than two clubs in the same season but the summer set-up in Irish football paved the way for a move to County Louth.

Bradley will hope continued good performances can push him into the thoughts of Scot Gemmill after missing out on the