IRISH CUP: Loughgall's Warner Mullen hoping for a double celebration

The Loughgall player has been named the Championship One player of the month for January – and on Saturday he’ll be hoping to help his team book a place in the quarter-finals of the Tennent’s Irish Cup when they roll out the welcome mat for PSNI at Lakeview Park.

Mullen picked up his first NI Football Writers’ Belleek award after banging in nine goals over the past four weeks – which didn’t go unnoticed as Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree tried his best to lure him.

“I’m honoured to win the award,” said Mullen.

“I didn’t even give it any thought, so when I got the text to say I’d won it I was in shock. I’d like to thank the Football Writers and also my team mates.

“I’ve struck up a good strike partnership with Daniel Ryan and I wouldn’t have scored anything like as many goals if it wasn’t for his input. He deserves as much credit as me. I’ve just got my head down and delighted with the amount of goals we’ve scored.”

Mullen will be aiming to pop the bubbly again by helping his team claim a spot in the last four of the country’s top knockout tournament.

“When it comes to the fifth round draw each year, I’m usually hoping we draw at top side because I want to test myself, but playing a top team in the quarter finals would be even better,” he added

“Our results have been excellent in recent weeks, so everybody is full of confidence going into the PSNI game – but we still have to wary of them.”