Gavin Bazunu and Evan Ferguson nominated for young and senior FAI player of the year awards, Courtney Brosnan going for hat-trick

Gavin Bazunu and Evan Ferguson will go head to head for both the senior and young men's international player of the year prizes at the 34th FAI International Awards awards next month.

The 22-year-old Southampton goalkeeper won the young player award in 2021 while 20-year-old Brighton striker Ferguson claimed it in 2022 and last year.

They will be up against Luton's Chiedozie Ogbene - like Bazunu, currently sidelined with an Achilles injury - for the senior prize and another Southampton man, Will Smallbone, for the young player award.

Courtney Brosnan is aiming for a hat-trick in the senior women's category - the Everton goalkeeper is up against 2008 and '09 winner Niamh Fahey and 2022 recipient Katie McCabe.

Arsenal's McCabe has two of the three nominations for goal of the year, for strikes against Canada and Northern Ireland, with U21 captain Andrew Moran taking the other for his effort against Turkey.

Heather Payne is again nominated as the young women's international player of the year after winning the inaugural award last year. Crystal Palace pair Izzy Atkinson and Abbie Larkin are also in the running.

Jack Moylan of champions Shelbourne, Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic) and Lee Grace (Shamrock Rovers) are the League of Ireland men's player of the year nominees.

None of the trio were named in the league's own team of the year, which was announced today.

After much debate.

Our analysts' Team of the Year for 2024 in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division