Nominees announced for SSE Airtricity / Soccer Writers Ireland annual awards

The nominees for the 2022 SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Ireland flagship awards have been announced.

The Men’s Personality of the Year, Women’s Personality of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year awards will be presented at the annual banquet in Dublin's Burlington Hotel on Saturday January 14, 2023.

In the Men’s Personality of the Year category, four of the six nominees are managers.

Shamrock Rovers’ Stephen Bradley led the Hoops to a third Premier Division title on the bounce, while also steering them into the Europa Conference League group stages.

Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins lifted the FAI Cup at the end of a strong campaign, which also saw them finish second in the league.

Damien Duff suffered cup final pain at the hands of the Candystripes as his Shelbourne team were beaten in the decider but it was a strong return to the top flight for the Reds in Duff’s maiden campaign at the helm.

Meanwhile, Colin Healy is looking forward to life in the Premier Division after impressively guiding Cork City to the First Division crown.

Shamrock Rovers striker Rory Gaffney is acknowledged for his excellent season with the champions, while his team-mate Andy Lyons – who has since moved on to Blackpool - was also a key cog in Bradley’s machine.

In the Women’s Personality of the Year five players and one manager make up the six-person short list.

Shelbourne veteran Pearl Slattery helped the Reds to a memorable league and cup double, with the versatile Jessie Stapleton also playing a huge role in Shels’ run to glory.

Tommy Hewitt brought Athlone Town all the way to the FAI Cup final, where they lost to Shels, and steered them to within a whisker of winning the league in a breakthrough campaign. Striker Emily Corbet was one of Athlone’s stars, her goal haul taking the league by storm.

Peamount United’s Aine O’Gorman, now of Shamrock Rovers, is nominated for the second year in succession, having finished as the Women’s National League’s top scorer for the third year in a row.

The Goalkeeper of the Year award will be contested by Derry City’s Brian Maher, Shamrock Rovers’ evergreen stopper Alan Mannus, and Dundalk No 1 Nathan Shepperd.

Men's Personality of the Year

Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers): Leading Shamrock Rovers to a third Premier Division title in three years and reaching just a second ever European competition group stage meant 2022 was a particularly memorable one for Bradley, especially in light of son Josh's brave battle against leukaemia. The Rovers boss added to his squad smartly and his team ended the season strongly.

Damien Duff (Shelbourne): A high profile arrival into the League of Ireland, the often outspoken and always entertaining Duff has taken to his Tolka Park task impressively. His promoted and largely newly assembled Shelbourne team finished very comfortably in mid-table and their run to the FAI Cup Final had supporters dreaming of glory days past.

Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers): The striker enjoyed his career best season, leading the champions' line selflessly as they secured another title success. Gaffney's 15-goals in all competitions included a ECL group stage goal against Gent, four Dublin derby winners and the goal that beat challengers Derry City in the run-in.

Colin Healy (Cork City): In a competitive season at the top of the First Division, Healy steered Cork City to the title and automatic promotion back to the top flight. The former Republic of Ireland midfielder has taken seamlessly to his first job in senior football. Healy's impressive recruitment helped his young side rise to every challenge throughout 2022.

Ruaidhri Higgins (Derry City): Already a legend on Foyleside for his achievements in two trophy-laden spells as a player, Higgins' first full season in the dugout at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium cemented his place in supporters eyes as the man to return the club to the top. His team maintained a title tilt until late in the season and their comprehensive 4-0 FAI Cup Final victory was never in doubt.

Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers): One of the league's leading young lights for several seasons now, his debut campaign for the Hoops instantly saw the Naas-born player join the Premier Division's elite. His performances at left wing back offered Rovers a crucial dimension in domestic and European competition. Lyons' nine goals helped catch the eye of Championship side Blackpool, who swooped for his signature in August.

Women’s Personality of the Year

Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United): It was another excellent campaign for O’Gorman who was the league’s top scorer, netting 22 times for Peamount. O’Gorman has recently completed a move to Shamrock Rovers.

Emily Corbet (Athlone Town): The brilliant teenage striker fired Athlone to the brink of a double. Her 20 goals and attacking threat took the league by storm. This was only Corbet’s second season of senior football.

Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne): Stapleton scored in the title-clinching win at Wexford Youths and then found the net a week later in the 2-0 victory cup final over Athlone Town. Still only 17 years old, Stapleton showed composure beyond her years when the pressure was at its highest.

Tommy Hewitt (Athlone Town): Hewitt’s youthful Athlone team disrupted the big guns and almost pulled off a sensational double. They pushed Shelbourne to the final day in the title race and then suffered cup final heartbreak against them at Tallaght Stadium. A tough end to what was a remarkable season.

Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths): A cruciate ligament injury in September was a massively disappointing setback for the talented Molloy who had been fantastic for Wexford Youths up to that point. It also ended her hopes of making it to the World Cup with Ireland, but the 18-year-old has time on her side to return better than ever.

Pearl Slattery (Shelbourne): A true Shelbourne stalwart, Slattery’s winning mentality and experience helped Shels to the league and cup double. The team captain was steady as a rock in the league, cup and Champions League, in which Shels enjoyed a brilliant 1-0 win over ZNK Pomurje of Slovenia.

Goalkeeper of the Year

Brian Maher (Derry City): Maher ended the year with an FAI Cup winner’s medal and plenty of plaudits. He has emerged as a massively important figure in Ruaidhri Higgins’ dressing room.

Alan Mannus (Shamrock Rovers): Still going strong at the 40 years of age, Mannus was as reliable as ever between the sticks as the Hoops claimed a third league title on the bounce and made it to the Europa Conference League group stages.

Nathan Shepperd (Dundalk): The Wales U-21 international arrived from Brentford last January and thrived under the guidance of Stephen O’Donnell, consistently catching the eye with his agility, shot-stopping and reading of the game.