Shelbourne dominate awards list

THE shortlist's for the 2005 eircom/Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Personality and Goalkeeper of the Year Awards were announced yesterday.

League champions Shelbourne dominate with three nominations for Personality of the Year - Jason Byrne, Pat Fenlon and Owen Heary - and 2004's Goalkeeper of the Year, Steve Williams, is again nominated in that category.

Cork City manager Pat Dolan and striker Kevin Doyle are in the running for Personality of the Year, while Michael Devine makes the goalkeeper list. Waterford United striker Daryl Murphy completes the Personality of the Year shortlist while his former team mate Dan Connor, now with Drogheda United, is included in the goalkeeping category.

Personality of the Year: Jason Byrne, Pat Fenlon, Owen Heary (Shelbourne), Pat Dolan, Kevin Doyle (Cork City), Daryl Murphy (Waterford United). Goalkeeper of the Year: Steve Williams (Shelbourne), Dan Connor (Drogheda Utd), Michael Devine (Cork City).

The awards night takes place at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, on January 15.

There are two charity matches in aid of GOAL coming up. A former St Pat's side will take on representatives of the Merchants Quay foundation group at Richmond Park on Sunday at 2pm. FAI staff plus members of the Soccer Writers' Association will take on an Oireachtas team later this month.