Limerick success at 35th FAI International Awards at the Aviva Stadium

THERE were two big Limerick successes at the 35th FAI International Awards which took place at the Aviva Stadium on Friday ahead of the Rep of Ireland's friendly fixture with Senegal.

Exciting Limerick teenager Madison McGuane scooped the Women’s Under-17 International Player of the Year accolade after enjoying a terrific season.

Treaty United midfielder McGuane came through the club ranks at Pike Rovers schoolboy teams and was the only girl on the U12 boys Pike Rovers team in 2022 who famously won the National Cup. McGuane was one of the Pike goalscorers in the 2-0 victory over St Kevins Boys.

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McGuane, who attends Ardscoil Mhuire in Corbally, has also had an impressive international career and was one of two girls from Limerick girls to be part of the Republic of Ireland Schools U15 side during the Bob Docherty Cup squad in March 2023.

She scored four goals this year for her country in Irish under 15 and Irish under 16 games.

McGuane signed for Treaty United's Carelon Academy after departing Pike Rovers at the start of the 2024 season. 

McGuane quickly established herself at League of Ireland level with power-house midfield performances contributing goals and assists for her WU17 team who reached the elite phase as well as the quarter-final of the Academy Cup.

The teenager signed a first-team deal last December after an incredible first season with the club’s WU17 side.

The highly-rated teenager has impressed for the Treaty United senior side in the Women's Premier Division this season and was nominated for the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Player of the Month award for May.

McGuane was previously nominated for the GU15 FAI Schools International Player of the Year and WU16 International Player of the Year awards, picking up the former of the two.

The Limerick teenager was in Eerikkila, Finland last month with the Ireland Girls' U16 squad for the 2025 UEFA Development Tournament, where opposition was provided by Belgium, Finland and Switzerland.

Jake Dillon, Fairview Rangers, who won the Amateur Player of the Year at the FAI International Awards

Meanwhile, Jake Dillon, of Fairview Rangers, scooped the Amateur Player of the Year accolade.

Jake Dillon played a key role in Fairview Rangers march to Limerick District League Premier Division and FAI Junior Cup success.

Dillon was also part of the Munster FA squad that travelled to Switzerland last October representing Ireland in the UEFA Regions Cup. 

Robbie Brady completed a double by claiming the Senior Men’s International Player of the Year and International Goal of the Year awards – a feat that the Dubliner also achieved in 2016.

Kyra Carusa won the Senior Women’s International Player of the Year following her first ever nomination and on the back of recently breaking into double figures in goals scored for the Women’s National Team.

MNT midfielder Finn Azaz and WNT defender Jessie Stapleton picked up the Young Player of the Year awards, while Cork native Matt Healy was named as the Men’s Under-21 Player of the Year.

Former MNT player Denis Irwin, who was capped 56 times and featured in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, was inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame alongside WNT record goalscorer Olivia O’Toole.

The recipient of the Special Merit Award was broadcaster George Hamilton. A diligent and passionate commentator, he has been synonymous with providing colour and analysis to the biggest games in Irish football over the course of four decades.

A jury from Soccer Writers’ Ireland helped with the selection of certain categories to help honour those who excelled over the previous year.

35th FAI International Awards Winners

Senior Men’s International Player of the Year

Robbie Brady

Senior Women’s International Player of the Year

Kyra Carusa

Young Men’s International Player of the Year

Finn Azaz

Young Women’s International Player of the Year

Jessie Stapleton

International Goal of the Year

MNT | Robbie Brady vs Finland

Men’s Under-21 International Player of the Year

Matt Healy

Men’s Under-19 International Player of the Year

Freddie Turley

Women’s Under-19 International Player of the Year

Aoife Kelly

Men’s Under-18 International Player of the Year

Kyle Fitzgerald

Men’s Under-17 International Player of the Year

Finn Sherlock

Women’s Under-17 International Player of the Year

Madison McGuane

Boys’ Under-16 International Player of the Year

Niall Sullivan

Girls’ Under-16 International Player of the Year

Keelin Comiskey

Boys’ Under-15 International Player of the Year

Archie Quinn

Girls’ Under-15 Schools International Player of the Year

Hailey Twomey (Eureka Secondary School, Kells)

Boys’ Under-18 Schools International Player of the Year

Rhys Knight (Clonkeen College, Blackrock)

Football For All International Player of the Year

Heather Jameson (Cerebral Palsy)

Amateur Player of the Year

Jake Dillon (Fairview Rangers)

Hall of Fame

Denis Irwin

Olivia O’Toole

Special Merit

George Hamilton