Keane takes top honour at FAI Awards

`THE 3 International FAI awards took place Sunday night in RTE Studios in Dublin. With John Delaney, Noel King, Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane all in attendance for the ceremony it was a special night for all that were to be honoured on the night.

The live broadcast on RTE 2 started off with Everton's James McCarthy receiving the FAI Young Player Of The Year Award. McCarthy has played a massive part for Ireland over the past six months having cemented himself as a figure head in the centre of midfield whilst also dominating Everton's midfield week in week out in the Premier League.

Next up was the Senior Women's International Player Of The Year which went to Louise Quinn who is currently playing full time Ladies football in Finland for her club Eskilstuna United.

The FAI Schools Player Of The Year which in the past has gone to the likes of current UCD talisman Robbie Benson with it being handed over to Alan Browne this time around who is currently plying his trade with Preston North End. His award was accepted on his behalf by his clearly delighted mother.

Their were many awards handed out before the show went onto the national airwaves with Noel O'Donnell winning the Football For All Award for his participation with the Irish Deaf Football Team. St Michael's FC's Paul Breen was also honoured as the Intermediate Footballer Of The Year.

With so many of Irelands hottest young talents now occupying English academies the Under 16 award went to Robert Duggan of Peterborough United. On the Under 17 side of things a player who we have been hearing lots about in recent weeks is Manchester City's Jack Byrne as he picked up the first of many awards he looks set to receive in his career. The Women's Under 17 awards went to Savanah McCarthy of Listowel Celtic.

The Under 19 awards were given to Readings Pierce McSweeney and Raheny United Claire Shine whilst the Under 21 gong was given to Sean Murray of Watford United.

The SSE Airtricity League award went to St Patrick's Athletic Killian Brennan as he was presented with his award by Tony O'Donoghue.

The Special Merit Award was given to Ciara Grant who retired from International football last year having won 102 caps for her country. Grant also enjoyed a long playing career with Arsenal before finally transferring to Reading.

Former Republic Of Ireland midfielder and current RTE commentator Ronnie Whelan was then inducted into the Hall Of Fame and showed his shock as he accepted his prestigious award.

The public then had their say in the Senior International Player Of the Year which went to Robbie Keane as the LA Galaxy man received his award from the General Manager of the Galaxy in a comical sketch shot from LA.

The 3 International Goal Of The Year unsurprisingly went to Shane Long for his fantastically timed header against England at Wembley last year.

And last but not least the International Personality Award went to Dejan Stankovic of Serbia. The highlight of this award however was the return to our telly screens of Manuela Spinelli who was of course the interpreter for former Republic Of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni.