Waterford FC centre half John Mahon has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for August. The Sligo born defender topped the poll of Soccer Writers across the country as he finished ahead of Dundalk’s captain Daryl Horgan and Michael Duffy of Derry City, who have both been honoured earlier in the season.

Mahon has been a colossus for the Blues, helping them remain unbeaten through the month, with three clean sheets and he also contributed a goal against St Patrick’s Athletic for good measure.

He started his youth career with Ballisodare United before a move to Sligo Rovers in 2015. He made 89 appearances for the Bit O’Red before a brief spell with Scottish side, St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in Perth in 2022 where he played an important role in keeping the Saints in the SPL as they defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the play-off final.

Waterford’s form over the last few months has been remarkable -one defeat in 12 league fixtures stretching back to Jun 19 and a two-goal loss to league leaders, Shamrock Rovers.

They scored 21 goals in that hot streak and conceded just eight as they eased themselves out of the drop zone with Mahon playing a crucial role in their defensive set-up becoming the second Blues player in succession to win the monthly gong following in the footsteps of striker, Tommy Lonergan, last month’s winner.

“We are on a terrific run of form but it’s hard to put my finger on it. Since the gaffer came in that first day at training we could see what he was all about and sometimes the training sessions were actually harder than the games themselves.

He prepares us well and the way he speaks before a game, gets you right up for it. We are on a good run at the moment and hopefully we can keep it going now.

I can feel the love from Graham Coughlan and I know he respects me as a player and that’s why I repay him tenfold. The fact that he played centre-half himself is a help to me and the similarities are there. He has been a massive influence and that’s why I am doing so well at the moment,” he added.

“I have had some bad injuries in the past but I have put all that behind me. I feel I am enjoying the best part of my career at Waterford and long may that continue. Every time I go out on the field, I give my all to the team because you are not promised too much in this career. I am 26 now and I am really enjoying my football and I suppose I am reaching a peak,” said Mahon.

“Winning breeds confidence in the side and our progression through the various round of the FAI Cup to the semi-finals has helped us in terms of our league form and so far we have dovetailed both competitions nicely,” said Mahon.