While Cork City and Sean Maguire have deservedly gained plenty of plaudits, the current top goal scorer in the SSE Airtricity League is attacking midfielder Gary McCabe of in-form Bray Wanderers. The Seagulls have won three Premier Division games
While Cork City and Sean Maguire have deservedly gained plenty of plaudits, the current top goal scorer in the SSE Airtricity League is attacking midfielder Gary McCabe of in-form Bray Wanderers.
The Seagulls have won three Premier Division games on the bounce, thanks in no small part to McCabe, who faces his former club Shamrock Rovers on Friday.
The 28-year-old moved away from Tallaght Stadium following six years with the Hoops and has found the net nine times so far in 2017. He spent three seasons with Bray between 2007 and 2009 before a season in Sligo, with his largest goal haul coming in 2016, with 10 goals in 28 appearances as Shamrock Rovers finished fourth.
2017 looks set to be the season where McCabe sets another new high, following a brace against champions Dundalk last Friday. After an opening night win in Inchicore, Seagulls boss Harry Kenny said of McCabe “I want to play Gary in that no. 10 role in behind the centre forward and he does create a lot. He’ll either create or score goals for us.” McCabe played in a deeper role for Shamrock Rovers last term campaign, while earlier in his career he played as a winger.
Six goals from open play and three penalties has McCabe ahead of Cork City’s Sean Maguire, it also brings the Dubliner to 62 league goals, as he approaches 300 league outings.
While Bray scored just 39 goals in 33 games last season, the Wicklow outfit have already hit over half that total in just nine games, thanks in no small part to the creative influence of McCabe. McCabe has combined well with other winter signings Aaron Greene and Anto Flood, while Dylan Connolly has proven himself to be one of the most exciting wingers in the league.
A league winner in 2011, McCabe will be vital to Bray’s chances of improving on their sixth place finish last term. Currently joint-second with Dundalk, a win at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday would open up a nine point gap on their neighbours, before Kenny’s troops travel to Leeside to complete the opening third of the season.
