24th FAI International Football Awards Nominees announced

THE FAI announced the nominations for the 24th ‘Three’ FAI International Football Awards, which will take place on Sunday March 2, 2014 at RTÉ studios, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

League of Ireland Champions St. Patrick’s Athletic have two players nominated for the SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year Award, Killian Brennan and Ger O’Brien. Dundalk’s Richie Towell completes the shortlist.

Louise Quinn, Shannon Smyth and Julie-Ann Russell have been nominated for Senior Women's International Player of the Year.

Louise Quinn has recently signed for Swedish club Eskilstuna United are an impressive campaign with Peamount United.

Shannon Smyth currently plays for the Norwegian club Amazon Grimstad. Smyth was born in the United States but she represented Ireland in the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok.

The Women’s National League has also been recognised as Peamount United winger Julie-Ann Russell, sister of Sligo Rovers midfielder John Russell, is also nominated.

Two former League of Ireland stars have found themselves nominated within the Senior International Player of the Year section, former Sligo Rovers man Seamus Coleman along with former Galway United & Derry City goalkeeper David Forde. The other nominee is Robbie Keane.

Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has also been nominated within the Young International Player of the Year section. Along with former League of Ireland man James McClean and James McCarthy.

There were also nominees for the Three International Goal of the Year award. Wes Hoolahan is nominated for his debut international goal versus Poland in Aviva Stadium, Shane Long for his header against England in Wembley and Robbie Keane for his hat trick opening goal in Ireland’s FIFA World Cup Qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

The Women’s National League has a clean sweep of nominations at the International Under 19 level. Katie McCabe (Raheny United), Sarah Rowe (Castlebar Celtic) and Clare Shine (Raheny United) make up the shortlist.

Also at the awards, a former Republic of Ireland great will be inducted into the FAI's Hall of Fame, while there will also be a Special Merit Award, and an International Personality of the Year Award, all of which will be announced at the event.

Three nominations were chosen across the categories by a panel from the Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland and the winners will be revealed at the broadcast ceremony on March 2. The awards will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two at 8.30pm and streamed live on RTÉ.ie within the Republic of Ireland.

‘Three’ FAI International Football Awards Nominees

SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year

Killian Brennan

Ger O’Brien

Richie Towell

Senior International Player of the Year

Seamus Coleman

David Forde

Robbie Keane

Senior Women's International Player of the Year

Louise Quinn

Shannon Smyth

Julie-Ann Russell

Young International Player of the Year

Ciaran Clark

James McCarthy

James McClean

Three International Goal of the Year

Wesley Hoolahan

Robbie Keane

Shane Long

Under 21 International Player of the Year

Shane Duffy

Sean Murray

Aiden O’Brien

Under 19 International Player of the Year

Sam Byrne

Shane Griffin

Pierce Sweeney

Under 19 Women's International Player of the Year

Katie McCabe

Sarah Rowe

Claire Shine

Under 17 International Player of the Year

Jack Byrne

Cody Mulhall

Jake Mulraney

Under 17 Women's International Player of the Year

Megan Connolly

Keeva Keenan

Savannah McCarthy

Under 16 International Player of the Year

Anthony Dolan

Robert Duggan

George Poynton

Junior International Player of the Year

Paul Breen

Darren Dunne

Shane Waters

Intermediate Player of the Year

Martin Cramer

Andrew Neville

Malachy McDermott

Football for All International Player of the Year

Marc Bigger

Joe Markey

Noel O’Donnell

FAI School's International Player of the Year

Alan Browne

Alex Byrne

Jack Doherty