UCD's Ryan Swan has been named as the SSE Airtricity/SWAI Player of the Month for July with the teenage striker rewarded for his European exploits for the first division side who qualified for the Europa League courtesy of their disciplinary record last season.
The former Tolka Rovers and Bray Wanderers player scored all three of the club’s goals over their four games as they caused a considerable surprise by eliminating F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg from the competition before going out to Slovan Bratislava in the next round. He has 10 so far in the league, meanwhile, as UCD push to bounce straight back from relegation last season.
“I’m delighted to get the award. It’s not very often that a First Division player gets it so I’m thrilled,” said Swan.
“When I joined UCD I didn’t think I would be playing European football but it turned out we got it and it was an unbelievable experience. The trips brought the team together and it was great. It wasn’t like a normal league game. Having the build up to the European games and how we worked on it was good to see and good to experience.”
Swan beat a string of more established Premier Division players to the award with Brandon Miele of Shamrock Rovers and Cork City's Mark O'Sullivan having run him closest in the voting.
