Ex-Red Hand McGinn shortlisted for top Scottish soccer award
April 25, 2013
Celtic and Northern Ireland winger Niall McGinn
The prolific striker has been shortlisted along with Leigh Griffiths (Hibernian), Michael Higdon (Motherwell) and Andrew Shinnie (Inverness). McGinn played GAA with Donaghmore and soccer for Dungannon Swifts before joining Derry City. He subsequently had spells with Celtic and Brentford before signing for the Dons at the beginning of last season.
McGinn made worldwide headlines last October when he scored for Northern Ireland in a 1-1 draw with Portugal in their World Cup qualifier in Lisbon.
Fermanagh captain Ryan McCluskey, who is a former Dungannon Swifts team-mate, has extended his congratulations to McGinn on Twitter this morning.
"Congrats to @nmcginn10 on his nomination for the SPL player of the year! Top man on and off the pitch!" he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Celtic manager and former Armagh minor footballer Neil Lennon is angry that none of his Scottish champions have been nominated for the PFA award.
"Are people voting for the best or the most improved player? I can't see why there's no Commons, Hooper, Wanyama or Forster on that list," he said.
"It beggars belief that we make a semi-final of the League Cup, final of the Scottish Cup, win the championship, make the last 16 of Europe, beating Barcelona, beating Spartak Moscow, putting the country on the map again, and I think the outcome of those votes belittles all the efforts of the players." Tweet
