![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_Michael-Duffy-of-Derry-City-has-been-named-the-SSE-Airtricity-Soccer-Writers-Ireland-Player-of-the.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThe Derry City star was speaking as he picked up the Player of the Month award for February.<\/p>\n
Michael Duffy is named SSE Airtricity\/SWI Player of the Month for March<\/p>\n
Michael Duffy says he has not given up on his dream of pulling on the green jersey.<\/p>\n
The Derry City<\/a> star has been named SSE Airtricity\/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for February, ahead of Bohemians<\/a> pair Colm Whelan and Dawson Devoy.<\/p>\n Devoy is one of four players to be included in Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson<\/a>\u2019s provisional squad for the World Cup<\/a> play-offs later this month.<\/p>\n The Bohs star has been joined by Shamrock Rovers<\/a> trio Ed McGinty, Matt Healy and Adam Brennan.<\/p>\n Derry-born Duffy was close to a call-up under Stephen Kenny, but having played for Northern Ireland\u2019s Under-21s his international transfer didn\u2019t come through in time.<\/p>\n At the age of 31 he shows no signs of slowing down. He scored four goals in February, including a hat-trick against Waterford, to get his own 2026 season off to a flyer.<\/p>\n Asked if he still harboured international ambitions, Duffy replied: \u201cAye, of course. That’s something I would love to do.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone wants to play for their country. It was always a main goal of mine, but as I said last year in interviews, I don’t get too worked up about it now. If it happens, it happens.<\/p>\n \u201cI just concentrate on Derry and how I can help Derry win games and for us to be successful.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if something like that ever came, then obviously it would be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n As for Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s acknowledgement of the form of his League of Ireland quartet, Duffy added: \u201cI’ve seen that the four lads get called onto the provisional squad.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s great. Fair play to them. And it’s great for the league that players are getting recognised. So I’m delighted for those players.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not going to get too worked up that I haven’t been put in the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n While Duffy has kicked off the new campaign in fine form, Derry\u2019s defeat to Shamrock Rovers last Friday was their second of the season so far.<\/p>\n Given the expectation on the Candystripes this season, which intensified after they brought James McClean back to the club, Duffy admitted: \u201cIt’s been a bit disappointing for us.<\/p>\n \u201cWe definitely would want to be on more points than we are right now. But we know it’s early days and we’re still working and we’re still together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know we have a lot to work on, but we’re fighting here as a group.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s a lot of expectation here this year. For us as players too, we know that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ve signed, obviously, a great squad, and we really want to be successful here, but we’re only five games into the season and a couple of results haven’t gone our way.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we’re not going to get too down about it. There’s so much to play for still left in the season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just look now towards Friday, how we can go and put it right and start picking up a few ones.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google<\/a> means you\u2019ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n