The 2013 campaign has been difficult so far for Shels but the Tolka Park outfit were given plenty of encouragement for the weeks ahead thanks to a virtuoso goalkeeping performance

LEAGUE OF IRELAND PLAYER OF THE WEEK

NIALL BURDON | SHELBOURNE





PERSONAL Position Goalkeeper Age 20

Nationality France/ Ireland

2013 LEAGUE OF IRELAND SEASON STATS Appearances 2 Clean sheets 1

Cards 0



It has not been an easy start to the Airtricity Premier Division season for Shelbourne but manager Alan Mathews will be able to take plenty of positives from Sunday's goalless draw with Shamrock Rovers – not least the performance of Niall Burdon.The goalkeeper made his league debut in last week's defeat to Dundalk and was once again entrusted between the posts despite the return of Ger Hanley from injury.He repaid his manager's faith with a man-of-the match performance which kept Rovers at bay and earned Shels their first point of the season.The visitors found Burdon to be in inspired form as he pulled off saves to deny Shane Robinson, Ciaran Kilduff and Ronan Finn before producing a superb double stop when Karl Sheppard must have thought he had done enough to snatch all three points with just a few minutes left on the clock.The highly-rated net minder is a product of the Stade Rennais youth academy and as a native of France, the 20-year-old has dual Irish and French citizenship.Already capped at youth level for the Boys in Green, Burdon is certainly one to watch in the future and could play a big part for the Tolka Park side this season.