Championship: Bangor, Dundela and Institute will battle it out for the Player of the Year honour
Scott McArthur has 14 goals for Bangor this season
Jordan Jenkins has been among the goals for Dundela
Portadown may need just one more win to seal the Playr-Fit Championship title, but none of their players have been nominated for the division’s Player of the Year at Saturday’s NI Football Awards.
Instead, players from their three title rivals — Bangor, Dundela and Institute — will fight it out for the prestigious prize that has previously been won by the likes of Chris Curran, Paul Heatley and Jordan Forsythe.
This year’s nominees are Bangor’s mercurial playmaker Scott McArthur, Institute’s commanding defender Shaun Leppard and Dundela’s deadly striker Jordan Jenkins.
Jordan Jenkins has been among the goals for Dundela
McArthur has scored 14 League goals for the Seasiders this season while striker Jenkins has bagged 20 for the Duns.
Centre-back Leppard — who has been linked with a move to Cliftonville — has been key in the division’s meanest defence.
This season has arguably been the most thrilling campaign in the history of the Playr-Fit Championship and the battle for Player of the Year is also an exciting one.
The Premier Intermediate League Player of the Year will also be announced at Saturday night’s gala dinner.
Rathfriland Rangers’ skilful winger Ruari Fitzpatrick, Ballymacash Rangers’ powerful defender Jordan Morrison and Limavady United goal-getter Alex Pomeroy have been nominated for the prize.
Pomeroy is the third tier’s top scorer with 18 goals, Morrison is a commanding centre-back with an eye for goal while Fitzpatrick has been a key player in Rathfriland Rangers’ impressive first season in League football.
Shaun Leppard has been a pivotal part of the Institute defence
The winners will be announced at the NI Football Awards, which will be staged at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza on Saturday night.
The gala event is jointly organised by the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association and the Northern Ireland Football League.
Playr-Fit Championship Player of the Year Shortlist: Scott McArthur (Bangor), Shaun Leppard (Institute), Jordan Jenkins (Dundela)
Premier Intermediate League Player of the Year Shortlist: Alex Pomeroy (Limavady United), Ruari Fitzpatrick (Rathfriland Rangers), Jordan Morrison (Ballymacash Rangers).
