Keena named Sligo Rovers player of the year
Aidan Keena has been named Sligo Rovers Player of the Year on the same weekend that he scored his twentieth goal of the season for the club.
The Mullingar native came out on top in a fans vote at the end of a season in which he has led the League of Ireland Premiership goalscoring charts from almost start to finish.
He was presented with his award before Friday's night match against St Patrick's Athletic in The Showgrounds. Fittingly, Keena's 53rd minute penalty was the difference between the two sides.
In addition to his 17 league goals - five ahead of the second highest goalscorer - Eoin Doyle from St Pat's - Keena also scored important goals against Bala Town and Motherwell in the Europa Conference League and has three assists to his name, too.
He cemented his popularity with the Sligo fans in March when he scored a hat-trick against north west neighbours Finn Harps.
While Keena and his team mates will be disappointed with Sligo's fifth place finish and missing out on a place in Europe next season, the former Mullingar Athletic man hit the ground running when he joined the club from Falkirk in January.
He was rewarded for his goalscoring exploits and overall form when he signed a new two year deal with the club in July.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner after he signed the new deal, Keena said that he was enjoying life in Sligo.
“I love it down here. They love it [football] down here. When the team is doing well the whole town is buzzing,” he said.
Sligo Rovers end their league campaign away to Bohemians in Dalymount Park on Sunday next, November 6.