Top-flight trio in the hunt for FAI gong

KEVIN DOYLE, Richard Dunne and John O’Shea are the contenders for the 3/FAI Senior International Player of the Year award at a gala ceremony in Dublin on February 6.

Manchester United’s Darron Gibson, Greg Cunningham, currently out with a broken leg suffered while on loan at Leicester City from Man City, and Reading’s in-form striker Shane Long contest the Young Player Award.

The nominations are chosen by a panel from the Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland, and comprise 18 categories across all age levels. In addition, a former Republic of Ireland great will be inducted into the FAI’s Hall of Fame.

Sligo Rovers midfielders Richie Ryan and Joseph Ndo, along with the domestic league’s top scorer for the last two years, Gary Twigg of Shamrock Rovers, are the nominees for the Airtricity League Player of the Year.

The event will be televised live by RTÉ.

3/FAI International Soccer Awards Nominees

Senior International player of the Year: Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), John O’Shea (Manchester United).

Young Player of the Year: Greg Cunningham (Manchester City), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Shane Long (Reading).

International Goal of the Year: Kevin Doyle v Andorra (07/09/10), Robbie Keane v Algeria (28/05/10), Liam Lawrence v Paraguay (25/05/10).

U21 Player of the Year: Conor Clifford (Plymouth, on loan from Chelsea), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Anthony Stokes (Celtic).

Airtricity League Player of the Year: Joseph Ndo (Sligo Rovers), Richie Ryan (Sligo Rovers), Gary Twigg (Shamrock Rovers).

U19 International Player of the Year: Robbie Brady (Manchester United), Conor Clifford (Plymouth, on Loan from Chelsea), Greg Cunningham (Leicester City, on loan from Manchester City).

U17 International Player of the Year: Shane Byrne (Leicester City) , Sean McGinty (Manchester United), Frankie Sutherland (QPR).

U16 International Player of the Year: Joe Coll (Manchester United), Mickey Drennan (Aston Villa), Luke Gallagher (Cherry Orchard).

Senior Women’s International Player of the Year: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Ciara Grant (Arsenal), Fiona O’Sullivan (AIK Stolkholm).

U19 Women’s International Player of the Year: Karen Duggan (UL), Cherelle Khassell (Benfica), Becky Walsh (Salthill Devon).

Junior International Player of the Year: Chris Barbour (Mountview United), Ross Carrig (Killester United), Adrian Walsh (Carrick United).

Intermediate Player of the Year: Seamie Crowe (Athenry), Shane Hughes (Tolka Rovers), Stephen O’Donnell (Kildrum Tigers).

Football for All International Player of the Year: Paddy Coates (Irish Visually Impaired), Richard Dougherty (Irish Deaf Men’s Squad), Mary Strain (Special Olympics).

FAI School’s International Player of the Year: Richard Benson (Marist College, Athlone), Tomas Boyle (Salesian College, Celbridge), Brian Nolan (St. Paul’s Community College, Waterford).