Hoops’ Hayes honoured with SWPL Player of the Month Award

Caitlin Hayes on Ireland debut in the Aviva Stadium in September

Caitlin Hayes on Ireland debut in the Aviva Stadium in September Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)

Celtic and Republic of Ireland defender Catlin Hayes has rounded out an amazing 12 months by winning the SWPL December Player of the Month Award.

During 2023, she helped her club side win the Scottish Cup and was named Celtic’s Women’s Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and picked up the PFA Scotland Player of the Year. She made her debut for Ireland and scored her first international goal.

In December the 28-year-old scored three goals in two appearances for Celtic against Spartans and Hearts, leaving the the Hoops just three points behind league leaders Rangers at the winter break.

Speaking to Celticfc.com she said:  “It’s obviously a big honour to have won the award. I am thankful for it, but it’s probably a reflection on how my team-mates have continued to make me look.

“We had a good month, overall. We want to keep the momentum going and reaping all the rewards by staying in the cups. That is what we aim for and to continue to win in a style suits us."

After a process that took a number of years, the Ireland passport she secured during the summer enabled her to make her international debut for the Republic of Ireland in front of over 36,000 in the Aviva Stadium in September.

She said afterwards in the Aviva when speaking to extratime.com that she was “overwhelmed with emotion” making what was an impressive debut.

WNT manager Eileen Gleeson made her the only debutant for Ireland during her side’s impressive promotion out of UEFA Nations League B with Hayes one of six players who played in all six games as Ireland topped their group with a 100% record.

She scored her first international goal in her second game – the 4-0 away win in Hungary.



About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile