Diarmuid’s an Irn-man

The striker was handed the award for his six goals scored in Glenavon’s 10-0 hammering of Coagh United. It was the first time any Glenavon play has scored a double-hat-trick since the great Dennis Guy in 1966 and left O’Carroll on top of the world.

“I never dreamed I’d score six in one match and I’ve been buzzing ever since,’ he told the IFA website, www.irishfa.com.

The Glenavon frontman went on to tell the website how he had been close to quitting football before joining the club after his full-time career with Glasgow Celtic had ended:

“Things had gone a bit pear-shaped over the past couple of years and I became sick of the game. I was ready to chuck it all in.

‘My fiancee’s brother is a Director of Glenavon and he persuaded me to go along to training. Even though we’ve been struggling a bit this season I’ve found that I’ve really got my hunger back.”

O’Carroll and his strike-partners haven’t found scoring just as easy in the Carling Premiership this season but with his award now under his belt, who’s to say to Kerryman can’t get his name on the short-sheet more often from now on.