Linfield keeper Walsh named player of the month

Linfield goalkeeper David Walsh has been named as the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Month for December.

Walsh played a significant role in helping his side secure a big cushion at the top of the Irish Premiership table, keeping four clean sheets in the club's four league games during the final month of 2024.

David Healy's side defeated Coleraine 3-0, beat Dungannon Swifts 1-0, saw off Glenavon by the same scoreline and drew 0-0 with 'Big Two' derby rivals Glentoran on Boxing Day.

Walsh is competing with the experienced former Coleraine stopper Chris Johns for the goalkeeper starting jersey at the Windsor Park outfit but says picking up trophies come the end of the season is the primary focus.

"It's good to win personal stuff but it's more about the team and what we can win at the end of the season," Walsh told BBC Sport NI.

"If someone had said at the start of the season we would be 12 points clear we'd have bitten your arm off. With boys coming in we'll hopefully go from strength to strength between now and the end of the season.

"I'd spoken to the manager a couple of times about wanting to play and he just said 'your time will come' and thankfully it has."