Bray Wanderers striker Jason Byrne has been named as the Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for May.
The veteran striker hit five goals in seven games as he cemented his second place on the list of all-time leading League of Ireland goalscorers.
The 34-year-old beat off UCD’s Paul O'Conor and Stephen McLaughlin of Derry City, who finished second and third respectively.
The former Shelbourne, Bohemians and Dundalk man is chasing Brendan Bradley's spot as the all-time leading League of Ireland goalscorer, but his most pressing concern is to help push the Seagulls further up the table.
The Co Wicklow outfit return to action after the summer break with a visit to Hunky Dorys Park on Friday night.
“It’s a really big game for us on Friday night. Drogheda, of course, beat us 4-2 already this year, although we didn’t help ourselves having a man sent-off at 1-1,” said Byrne.
“The break has been good. We really needed to recharge the batteries after a great but a testing month of May. It was tough with so many games in a short period of time.”
Not that the congested fixture list had too detrimental an effect on Bray, as they recorded league wins over Dundalk and Bohemians and took a point from a 3-3 thriller with St Patrick’s Athletic.
It was Byrne’s 90th minute equaliser that ensured Wanderers avoided defeat in the latter game.
The striker is in his second spell at the Carlisle Grounds, having starred for the Seagulls between 1998 and 2003, and he is revelling in his role as an elder statesman in the squad.
“I am really enjoying my football and being back at Bray. People may say it’s an achievement to score goals but, really, a lot of it is due to the young lads around me,” Byrne said.
“It’s great playing in a team with the Kieran (Waters) and Adam (Hanlon), who are full of energy and put the ball into the box when needed. They’ve been a huge help to me.”
