Nominees for 3 FAI awards announced

Norwich City pair Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan along with Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters have been shortlisted for the 3 FAI Senior Men’s International Player of the Year award.

The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 20, March in RTÉ studios. The event will also be broadcast live on RTÉ 2 and the Men’s Senior soccer squad will be among those in attendance at the event.

John O’Shea is the current holder of the award, but this year will see a new winner of the accolade with neither Brady, Hoolahan or Walters having won the prize before.

Brady and Walters will join Shane Long in the running for the Men’s International goal of the year. Brady’s goal in the first leg of the Euro 2016 play-off triumph over Bosnia & Herzegovina gave Ireland the lead in a foggy Sarajevo before Roma striker Edin Dzeko equalised for the Bosnians.

Jon Walters’ crucial second half winner against Georgia in the Aviva Stadium last September sees him nominated for the award which Sheffield Wednesday’s Aiden McGeady currently holds. Coincidently, McGeady’s winning strike was also against the Georgians.

The favourite for this award will surely be Shane Long’s campaign salvaging goal against world champions Germany last October though. His emphatic strike past Manuel Neuer saw Ireland secure the play-off spot in Group D.

Last Year’s Women’s International Player of the Year winner and UCD Waves forward Julie-Ann Russell is again nominated alongside defender Louise Quinn and midfielder Denise O’Sullivan.

The SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year award will see three of Dundalk FC’s double winners compete against each other. New Brighton & Hove Albion recruit Richie Towell, Dundalk vice-captain Andy Boyle and winger Daryl Horgan will vie for the award currently held by Cork City midfielder and former Irish international Colin Healy.

Here are the full list of nominees and selected winners:

Senior International Player of the Year
Robbie Brady
Wes Hoolahan
Jonathan Walters

Senior Women's International Player of the Year
Louise Quinn
Denise O'Sullivan
Julie-Ann Russell

Young International Player of the Year
Robbie Brady
Cyrus Christie
Jeff Hendrick

Three International Goal of the Year
Robbie Brady v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Shane Long v Germany
Jonathan Walters v Georgia

Special Merit
Regions' Cup team

Under 21 International Player of the Year
Alan Browne
Darragh Lenihan
Callum O'Dowda

Under 19 International Player of the Year
Noe Baba
Fiacre Kelleher
Ryan Manning

Under 19 Women's International Player of the Year
Megan Connolly
Savannah McCarthy
Jessica Nolan

Under 17 International Player of the Year
Caoimhin Kelleher
Conor Masterson
Connor Ronan

Under 17 Women's International Player of the Year
Jamie Finn
Amanda McQuillan
Saoirse Noonan

Under 16 International Player of the Year
Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Under 16 Women's International Player of the Year
Heather Payne (Salthill Devon)

Under 15 International Player of the Year
Lee O'Connor (Villa - Waterford)

SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year
Andy Boyle (Dundalk)
Daryl Horgan (Dundalk)
Richie Towell (Dundalk)

Junior International Player of the Year
Jimmy Carr (St Michael's)
Dean Gibbons (Kilbarrack United)
Kevin Lynch (Sheriff YC)

Intermediate Player of the Year
Gavin Cullen (Cockhill Celtic)
Noel Murray (Crumlin United)
Kenneth Hoey (Rockmount)

FAI School's International Player of the Year
Connor Ellis (Colaiste Phobail)
Darragh Markey (Colaiste Phadraig)
Dan Tobin (Oatlands College)

Football For All International Player of the Year
Mark Duffy (Special Olympics Ireland)
Trevor Hogan (Homeless World Cup squad)
Jason McGuire (St Vincent's Deaf team)