Drogheda United midfielder Darragh Markey has been named SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for November.
Markey put in an immense shift for the Drogs as they beat Derry City to win the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup final. He was highly influential six days later in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division Play-Off victory over Bray Wanderers. For the second time in a week, the attacking midfielder exhibited his array of creative talents, making two of his team's three goals in their play-off victory over the Seagulls.
The 27 year-old from Lucan was one of three Drogheda players short-listed for the last of the monthly awards winning the nationwide poll ahead of team-mates Elicha Ahui and Frantz Pierrot.
Johnny Kenny of Shamrock Rovers was runner-up in the voting, Ahui was third with JJ Lunney of league champions Shelbourne and Dylan Watts of Shamrock Rovers also on the end-of-season list.
"It was a mad end to the season for us and we certainly didn’t envisage that a few months earlier," said Markey.
"We were at rock bottom in the squad back around May and June and we had no idea what lied ahead of us. Kevin Doherty the gaffer and all the lads did a great job to turn things around. I think we turned the worst few months of our careers into the most unforgettable and it was unbelievable stuff."
Markey started his professional career at St Patrick’s Athletic having played youths football with Cherry Orchard and he was capped at Under-17, Under-18 and schools level with the Republic of Ireland.
"It was tough to keep the focus and concentration after winning the Cup final and in the run-up to the promotion/relegation play-off so we had to curtail our celebrations," he added.
"We were back in training and recovery the morning after beating Derry and everyone just bought into it.
"We knew the bigger game was to come and we knew staying in the Premier Division would be massive for the club. It was a great sign of professionalism from the whole squad and obviously it all paid off for us."
Markey, who is just back from a brief holiday, said achieving European football for the first time in almost two decades was "incredible" for Drogheda United.
