Winners unveiled at the 33rd FAI International Awards

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Winners unveiled at the 33rd FAI International Awards

The 33rd FAI International Awards were held in The Round Room in The Mansion House on Tuesday night to honour those who have excelled over the last year.
20th Jun 2023

Taking in performances from June 2022-June 2023, the annual awards brought together many people to celebrate those who have made a big impact on Irish football.

Defender Nathan Collins won the Senior Men's International Player of the Year award and goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was named as the Senior Women's International Player of the Year following superb seasons.

Evan Ferguson was selected as the Young Men's Player of the Year and Heather Payne collected the first ever Young Women's Player of the Year award.

WNT forward Amber Barrett pipped Collins and fellow senior team-mate Michael Obafemi to claiming the International Goal of the Year for her finish against Scotland that helped Vera Pauw's team qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Rebekah Grant won the Football For All International Player of the Year after playing a key role in the Deaf Women's Futsal Team qualifying for this year's World Cup.

This year's recipient of the Special Merit Award is Niamh O'Donoghue. She was the first woman elected to the FAI Council, the first woman elected to the FAI Board and someone who had a significant impact in shaping the structures of women and girls' football.

The two inductees into the FAI Hall of Fame are former international defender Kevin Moran and ex-WNT goalkeeper Sue Hayden - two legendary figures for their respective teams.

A jury of members from Soccer Writers' Ireland helped select some of the nominees and winners from seven different categories.

 
33rd FAI INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WINNERS

SENIOR MEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nathan Collins

YOUNG MEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Evan Ferguson

SENIOR WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Courtney Brosnan

YOUNG WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Heather Payne

INTERNATIONAL GOAL OF THE YEAR
WNT | Amber Barrett v Scotland

MEN’S UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Will Smallbone

MEN’S UNDER-19 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sean Grehan

MEN’S UNDER-18 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sam Curtis 

MEN’S UNDER-17 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Naj Razi 

MEN’S UNDER-16 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matthew Moore

MEN’S UNDER-15 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rory Finneran 

UNDER-18 SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Peter Grogan (St. Mary’s CBS, Carlow)

WOMEN’S UNDER-19 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Scarlett Herron 

WOMEN’S UNDER-17 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aoife Kelly

WOMEN’S UNDER-16 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Freya Healy

UNDER-15 GIRLS SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Abigail Bradshaw (St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon)  

FOOTBALL FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rebekah Grant (Deaf Futsal)  

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers) 

AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Stephen Chambers

SPECIAL MERIT
Niamh O'Donoghue

HALL OF FAME
Kevin Moran
Sue Hayden