Player of the month award for Cotter

Ennis’ Barry Cotter has been named as Shamrock Rovers’ player of the month for September.

Fresh from picking of the man of the match accolade in Friday’s 1-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic, Barry has more silverware to add to the mantlepiece with the club confirming he is the recipient of the player of the month award.

A dramatic late own goal from Nahum Melvin-Lambert in Inchicore all but ended the race for the SSE Aitricity League Premier Division in a frantic Dublin derby. There was a further Clare link to the encounter with Richard Hennessy taking charge of proceedings, the Moyross official is a regular referee in the Clare District Soccer League.

Cotter signed with Shamrock Rovers at the beginning of September and has fitted seamlessly into Stephen Bradley’s side. In his four outings for the club, he has played left-wing back, right-wing back and centre half.

Playing in the multitude of positions has not fazed the former Avenue Utd and Ennis Town FC footballer. “I’m at the age where all I can do is my best, I’m so young, I’ve so much more time to learn new positions and I’m just happy with the challenges the gaffer is giving me and the trust he has shown in me”.

He added, “The second I came in I said what a group, everything from the talent to the workrate, the hunger and the ambition, the way the club is moving, it is unbelievable to be a part of”.

Having scouted Barry for Arsenal during his days with Limerick FC, Bradley has always been aware of the qualities of the twenty two year old. I thought he was tailor-made for that level as his athletic ability is plain for everyone to see. He needs some work in certain areas but his raw materials are very, very good. He just lost his way a little bit in England but that can happen quite easily. It happens in every walk of life. We overlooked that. He’s a very, very good footballer.

“When we had the chat with Barry, we sat down for a few hours and it was just if he had the fire in the belly to go again, and he has. He was getting pushed to Holland, Belgium and elsewhere. It took a bit of persuading to get him here but thankfully we did. He is a good kid with a good family and he’s going to be a good player for us in the coming years,” the Rovers boss commented.