Tasmin McCarter has been rewarded for her part in Sion Swifts Ladies mid-season revival by being named as the Danske Bank Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association Women’s Player of the Month for July.

The long-serving defender played a key part as Sion completed July with a 100 per cent record in their five games, with an Irish Cup success against Mid-Ulster Ladies adding to their revival.

“I was a bit speechless when I was told that I had won the award,” said Tasmin, who becomes only the second Sion Swifts Ladies player to win the Player of the Month award after Donna-Kay Henry picked up the prize in August 2019.

“Recently we have been doing quite well. July was a good month for us as a team and the results matched our performances.

“I’ve been very happy with how I have been playing personally, as a team we have had to dig deep and I am very pleased to have got the award and that other people have acknowledged my performances.”

Sion Swifts had a tough start to the season. Their revival was sparked in late June when it was actually Tasmin who scored the opening goal in a resounding 6-0 win over Linfield.

“It was good to get the goal against Linfield – it has been a while – and it is always nice to get onto the scoresheet as well,” said the stylish defender.
“The run that we got ourselves on was well needed after the start to the season we had. It was one thing after another and we didn’t know when we were going to get a break.

“Even if the results hadn’t gone our way we knew that we were performing and we could have taken that on, but winning helps and you always want to take that into the next game.”

As captain Tasmin’s leadership has been crucial for Sion, with a squad that has shown several changes even during the season.

“We have always been a tight-knit group, even more so this year and that’s been important because we have a small squad,” she said.

“The togetherness makes us stronger and I think that has shown in the results that we have been picking up lately.

“We just want to try to keep the momentum going when we are winning because football has its highs and lows and you are always going to have defeats, you just have to drive on to the next one, keep your head up and go again and not let it affect you.”

Cliftonville Ladies striker Caitlin McGuinness was second, with Casey Howe of Glentoran Women in third.