19th International Soccer Awards Ceremony

The 19th annual Eircom International Soccer awards were presented at a ceremony held in the Citywest Hotel, Saggart on Sunday 8 February 2009.

The nominations for Senior International Player of the Year were Kevin Doyle, Shay Given and John O'Shea, with the award going to Reading striker Doyle. The Wexford man, has been hugely influential with his club, scoring seventeen Championship goals so far this season and the 23 times capped striker, has been an ever present for new Ireland manager Giovanni Trappatoni.

The International Personality Award went to Ruud Gullit, the former captain of Holland, while the seventy nine year old former Middlesbrough and Shelbourne inside forward Arthur Fitzsimons was inducted into the International Hall of Fame.

Glasgow Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady deservedly received the Young Player of the Year award. The Under 21 accolade was presented to the Ipswich Town midfielder Owen Garvan. The commanding performances of Michael Spillane in both defence and midfield was recognised with the Under 19 award.

The Special Merit award went to recently retired League of Ireland referee Eddie Foley while the International Goal of the Year was decided by the voting public and the winner was the spectacular Andy Keogh equaliser against Serbia in Croke Park during May 2008.

In the other under-age categories, the midfield exploits of Aaron Doran at Blackburn Rovers FC and the younger Derby County FC defender Mark O'Brien were recognised with their respective age group awards.

The award for the Senior Women's team was collected by Niamh Fahey who has recently joined the colony of Irish ladies at Arsenal WFC. Kilkenny born defender Karen Duggan deservedly collected the Women's Under 19 award while at Under 17 level, the inspirational exploits of Kilmacrennan Celtic LFC midfielder Ciara Grant saw her collect the award.



The full list of winners is: