Jonathan Walters capped a goalscoring weekend with Stoke by becoming the Senior International Player of the Year at the FAI Soccer Awards.
Walters, who scored five goals in Euro 2016 qualifiers during the past year, took the top award ahead of Norwich City pair Wes Hoolahan and Robbie Brady.
On being added to the illustrious list of winners, Walters said: “You run through those names and it’s the players you grow up watching, so it’s a privilege to be among those names now.”
Walters was pipped to the Goal of the Year award by Shane Long, whose strike against Germany earned the Southampton attacker his second such award.
Long had previously won the honour two years ago for scoring in a friendly against England and jetted back to Dublin for tonight’s awards after playing 90 minutes in Southampton’s 3-2 victory against Liverpool today.
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Brady, who like Walters scored for his club this weekend, won the Young International Player of the Year award – one of three awards he was nominated for on the night.
After only yesterday signing a transfer to American side Houston Dash, Denise O’Sullivan won the Senior Women's International Player of the Year award.
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[/raw]The Senior Women's International Player of the Year award goes to Denise O'Sullivan! #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/8bJpPz97xq
— FAI (@FAIreland) March 20, 2016
Tony Cascarino was inducted into the Hall of Fame, becoming the sixth player from the Euro '88 & Italia '90 squads to be recognised, while ex-Italy international Gianluca Vialli, who also played in those two tournaments, was named as the International Personality of the Year.
There was no surprise in the SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year award, as Richie Towell added to his extensive list of honours. His former Dundalk teammates, Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan, were the other nominees.
Here’s a full list of award winners:
Senior International Player of the Year
Jonathan Walters
Senior Women's International Player of the Year
Denise O'Sullivan
Young International Player of the Year
Robbie Brady
Three International Goal of the Year
Shane Long v Germany
Special Merit
Regions' Cup team
Hall of Fame
Tony Cascarino
International Personality of the Year
Gianluca Vialli
Under 21 International Player of the Year
Alan Browne
Under 19 International Player of the Year
Ryan Manning
Under 19 Women's International Player of the Year
Megan Connolly
Under 17 International Player of the Year
Connor Ronan
Under 17 Women's International Player of the Year
Amanda McQuillan
Under 16 International Player of the Year
Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Under 16 Women's International Player of the Year
Heather Payne (Salthill Devon)
Under 15 International Player of the Year
Lee O'Connor (Villa - Waterford)
SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year
Richie Towell (Dundalk)
Junior International Player of the Year
Jimmy Carr (St Michael's)
Intermediate Player of the Year
Kenneth Hoey (Rockmount)
FAI School's International Player of the Year
Connor Ellis (Colaiste Phobail)
Football For All International Player of the Year
Mark Duffy (Special Olympics Ireland)
