Doyle delivers on the double

NOT a bad weekend for Kevin Doyle who, having scored in Wolves’ 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday, last night struck on the double at the 3/FAI International Awards.

Doyle was named the Senior International Player of the Year while his goal against Andorra was voted the 3 International Goal of the Year.

That strike at the Aviva Stadium was a scorcher but his goal against United was a bit more dubious, not that Doyle was complaining. “I won’t be letting the left-back claim it anyway — if I see it hitting my head and going into the net, it’s definitely my goal,’’ he said on receiving his award last night.

“With United on their unbeaten run that game was set up for us to win. I said it to my friends the day before — if you’re ever going to have an interest in backing us, this is the one. They obviously didn’t listen to me — they just laughed. But I really did fancy us. Our pitch wouldn’t have suited them and we played well as well. We just need to get some consistency now.”

Doyle’s former colleague at Reading, Shane Long, captured the Young International Player of the Year, Seamus Coleman was crowned the U21 Player of the Year and Shamrock Rovers’ Gary Twigg was voted the Airtricity League Player of the Year. Former Ireland striker Frank Stapleton was inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame while Wales and Liverpool legend Ian Rush was awarded the 3/FAI International Personality of the Year.

The Republic of Ireland Women’s U17 squad were awarded the Special Merit Award for their successful FIFA World Cup campaign as they came agonisingly close to glory in Trinidad and Tobago last September, falling a 2-1 defeat to finalists, Japan in the quarter finals. Other awards winners were: U19 Player of the Year: Conor Clifford (Chelsea), U17 Player of the Year: Sean McGinty (Man Utd), U16 International Player of the Year: Mikey Drennan (Aston Villa), Senior Women’s Player of the Year: Fiona O’Sullivan (AIK Stokholm), U19 Women’s Player of the Year: Becky Walsh (Salthill Devon), Junior Player of the Year: Ross Carrig (Killester Utd), Intermediate Player of the Year: Seamie Crowe (Athenry), Football for All International Player of the Year: Richard Dougherty (Irish Deaf Men’s Squad) and School’s International Player of the Year: Robert Benson (Marist College, Athlone).