Knockout weekend for Doyle

THE weekend was a story of highs and lows for Kevin Doyle who was last night named Player of the Year at the annual eircom FAI International Awards — just 24 hours after he had been knocked unconscious in Reading’s scoreless draw with Preston.

The Wexford-born striker, the second highest scorer in the Championship this season with 17 goals, has been one of the most consistently impressive Irish players this year, his headed goal against Georgia opening the national team’s World Cup account in the 2-1 victory in Mainz last September.

Last night’s award marked a personal three-in-row for Doyle, following on from his Goal of The Year (against Slovakia) last year and the Young Player Of The Year Award in 2007.

But while the player was pleased to pick up the gong, his main concern afterwards was that he would recover in time for the match against Georgia.

“The keeper pulverised me in the first minute,” Doyle explained. “It was accidental, I collided with him, a massive bang, and he knocked me out. I was out for about five seconds but I played on anyway because I didn’t know any better. In the end, they took me off, after about 70 minutes, because I was looking fairly dozy.

“There doesn’t seem to have been any serious concussion because my memory is still fine, it’s just a headache, a sore neck and a bit of drowsiness. So I didn’t train with the squad today but I’ll see what’s it’s like (today) and I should be fine by Wednesday.”

Aiden McGeady was named Young Player of the Year and Ipswich Town midfielder Owen Garvan picked up the U-21 gong.

The opening goal of the Giovanni Trapattoni era – Andy Keogh’s equalising volley in the last May’s friendly against Serbia – was named Goal Of The Year, while the double-winning Bohemians goalkeeper Brian Murphy took the League of Ireland honours.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame by John Giles – who called him “one of my idols” — was former Ireland international and League of Ireland stalwart Arthur Fitzsimons who spent most of his playing career with Middlesbrough. The 79-year-old was capped 26 times for his country, scoring seven goals.

The Special Merit award went to recently retired League of Ireland and international referee and linesman Eddie Foley from Cork, while Dutch great – and former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit – was named the International Personality The Year.

Accepting his award, Gullit said that, under Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland were “in good hands”.