Institute’s Padraig Lynch named Football Writers' Player of The Month for April
Institute forward Padraig Lynch has been named the NI Football Writers’ Association Championship Player of the Month for April alongside former Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins who lifted the managerial award.
Peter Hutton’s squad claimed 10 points from four games in a superb final month of the season, with Lynch on the scoresheet against Ards, Armagh City and Ballinamallard United. The goals brought the former Dungannon Swifts man’s tally for the 2025/26 season to 18 goals as ’Stute topped the Playr-Fit Championship’s Section B, ironically ending with more points than Queen’s and Loughgall in Section A.
“It’s always nice to win an individual award, so I’m delighted with this,” explained Lynch after receiving his award in Windsor Park last week, “At Institute, we made a slow start to the season but picked up after Christmas to finish seventh in the table.
"Hopefully, we can carry that momentum into next season and make a push for promotion. It’s a very competitive division, but I think we have the quality to kick on.”
Meanwhile former Brandywell boss Ruaidhrí Higgins was named Manager of the Month following an outstanding run of results that saw Coleraine secure second spot in the Sports Direct Premiership.
Coleraine won their last four league games of the campaign, scoring 19 goals in wins over Larne, Cliftonville, Linfield and Glentoran. In the Irish Cup, the Bannsiders knocked out Larne at the semi-final stage before beating Dungannon Swifts 3-2 in a memorable Final.
A delighted Higgins said: “I would like to thank the Football Writers’ for this award, but it would not be possible without my backroom team. I’ve a great group of coaches and staff at the Showgrounds, and our success this season wouldn’t have been possible without them.
“Finishing second and winning the Irish Cup was a fantastic way to finish the season. It’s been an incredible year, and we’re determined to enjoy this period of success. But with European games only a few weeks away, we’re already making plans for the new season.”
Elsewhere, striker Matthew Shevlin made it a Bannside ‘double’ when the Irish Cup Final hero picked up the Sports Direct Premiership Player of the Month after scoring a staggering seven goals in April. Runner-up to Shevlin was another former Derry City star, his Coleraine teammate Will Patching.