Cork and Dundalk dominate SWAI award nominations

Cork City and Dundalk dominate the nominations for this year’s SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland awards.

John Caulfield and Stephen Kenny, the men at the helm of Cork and the Lilywhites respectively, are among six nominees for the Personality of the Year award.

The other four contenders include Sean Maguire (Cork City), Chris Shields, Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle (all Dundalk).

Maguire had a memorable season with the Rebels having moved south from Dundalk at the start of the year. The striker hit the net 29 times for City last term including the extra-time winner in November’s FAI Cup final.

Shields, Horgan and Boyle were all members of the incredible Dundalk side who reached the group stages of the Europa League while defending their Premier Division title for the third year in succession.

The competition also sees the recently appointed Phillips Sports Manager of the Year, Stephen Kenny, and the reigning PFAI Player of the Year, Daryl Horgan, contend for another personal accolade at the awards ceremony which takes place in Dublin's Conrad Hotel on Friday, January 13th.

The Goalkeeper of the Year award will also be handed out on the same night with the chief keepers from the 2016 season’s top three in contention.

Last year’s winner Gary Rogers will vie with Mark McNulty of Cork and Derry City’s Ger Doherty for the award.

The nominees in full:

SWAI Personality of the Year nominees: Stephen Kenny (Dundalk), Daryl Horgan (Dundalk), John Caulfield (Cork City), Sean Maguire (Cork City), Chris Shields (Dundalk), Andy Boyle (Dundalk).

SWAI Goalkeeper of the Year nominees: Gary Rogers (Dundalk), Mark McNulty (Cork City), Gerard Doherty (Derry City).