The 33rd FAI International Awards saw Nathan Collins and Courtney Brosnan being named as the senior men's and women's players of the year.The awards were held in The Round Room in Dublin's Mansion House on Tuesday and took in performances from June 2022 to June 2023.Defender Collins was on the scoresheet for his country against Greece on Friday last and also scored a wonderful goal against Ukraine this time last year.
Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan played her part in helping the Republic of Ireland reach the Women's World Cup finals for the first time.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.