Awards Banquet

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IPFBA members were among the hundreds who attended a memorable SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Awards ceremony at Clontarf Castle Hotel on Friday, December 6th.

The gala awards banquet saw recognition for football figures past and present, including the presentation of the Liam Tuohy Special Merit Award (introduced thirty years ago) to former striker Jason Byrne for his prolific goalscoring exploits and lengthy span in League of Ireland football. The Dubliner is the second-highest ever goalscorer in the domestic game with 222 league goals in 499 appearances, just 13 behind Brendan Bradley’s record of 235.

International Achievement Awardees: Celebrating Ireland’s famous win over Russia at Dalymount Park 50 years ago were (back, l-r) Liam Brady, Jimmy Holmes, Paddy Roche, Paddy Mulligan; (front) Eoin Hand, Terry Conroy, John Giles, Terry Mancini, Mick Martin.

The Ireland team who overcame the USSR 3-0 in a European Championship qualifier 50 years ago received the International Achievement Award, recalling ‘The Roar of ’74’ when Don Givens’ famous hat-trick sank the Soviets at a packed Dalymount Park in late October. An 18-year-old Liam Brady was given his debut that day by player-manager Johnny Giles.

Title-winning Shelbourne manager Damien Duff received the Men’s Personality of the Year accolade while Galway United’s Julie-Ann Russell scooped the Women’s equivalent after a remarkable year at club and international level.

Well done to the award winners, the organisers and sponsors for pulling out all the stops on what was a fantastic night steeped in great memories and fascinating conversation.