Glentoran Women’s defender Faye Loughran has been named the Sports Direct Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association Women’s Player of the Month for July, capping a whirlwind start to her Glentoran career.

The 18-year-old Northern Ireland youth international becomes the first player in history to win the award while representing two clubs in the same month, following her move from Lisburn Rangers to the Glens.

Loughran caught the eye with two standout performances against Cliftonville. She scored twice in an Irish Cup thriller for Lisburn Rangers before making an immediate impact on her Glentoran debut just a week later, earning Player of the Match recognition in a key Sports Direct Women’s Premiership clash.

Receiving her award, Faye Loughran said: “I’m very grateful for the award. Since this is the July award it would be half and half – first with Lisburn Rangers before I moved to Glentoran during the month. It’s good to get it playing for both teams, Lisburn who treated me so well over the last few years of my career and then half at a new club after moving to Glentoran.

“It has been a whirlwind few weeks for me and being thrust into the midst of a league title race came out of the blue. At the start of July I didn’t expect to be at a new club at the end of the month. It happened pretty quickly.

“I played against Cliftonville twice in the space of a week, which is one of the tougher fixtures. I scored two in the Irish Cup for Lisburn Rangers and I thought I had a really good performance that night. My first game for Glentoran was then against Cliftonville and I was lucky enough to play the full 90 minutes and I really enjoyed that game.

“I have loved it so far at Glentoran. All the girls have welcomed me so nicely and I am really enjoying my football. Hopefully I can keep going and keep playing the minutes I am playing at the minute.”