The 33rd FAI International Awards were held in The Round Room in The Mansion House on Tuesday night to honour those who have excelled over the last year.
Taking in performances from June 2022-June 2023, the annual awards brought together many people to celebrate those who have made a big impact on Irish football.
WNT forward Amber Barrett pipped Collins and fellow senior team-mate Michael Obafemi to claim the International Goal of the Year for her finish against Scotland that helped Vera Pauw's team qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was also awarded the Senior Women's International Player of the Year while Heather Payne was the recipient of the Young Women's International Player award.
Rebekah Grant won the Football For All International Player of the Year after playing a key role in the Deaf Women's Futsal Team qualifying for this year's World Cup.
Brilliant night at the 33rd FAI International Awards 🙌
Congratulations to all of the winners! pic.twitter.com/kyxEe4dCrI— FAI Women (@FAIWomen) June 20, 2023
This year's recipient of the Special Merit Award is Niamh O'Donoghue. She was the first woman elected to the FAI Council, the first woman elected to the FAI Board and someone who had a significant impact in shaping the structures of women and girls' football.
Ex-WNT goalkeeper Sue Hayden was also inducted into the hall of fame alongside former international defender Kevin Moran - two legendary figures for their respective teams.
A jury of members from Soccer Writers' Ireland helped select some of the nominees and winners from seven different categories.
33rd FAI International Awards Winners
SENIOR WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Courtney Brosnan
YOUNG WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Heather Payne
INTERNATIONAL GOAL OF THE YEAR
WNT | Amber Barrett v Scotland
WOMEN’S UNDER-19 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Scarlett Herron
WOMEN’S UNDER-17 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aoife Kelly
WOMEN’S UNDER-16 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Freya Healy
UNDER-15 GIRLS SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Abigail Bradshaw (St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon)
FOOTBALL FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rebekah Grant (Deaf Futsal)
SPECIAL MERIT
Niamh O'Donoghue
SENIOR MEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nathan Collins
YOUNG MEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Evan Ferguson
MEN’S UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Will Smallbone
MEN’S UNDER-19 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sean Grehan
MEN’S UNDER-18 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sam Curtis
MEN’S UNDER-17 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Naj Razi
MEN’S UNDER-16 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matthew Moore
MEN’S UNDER-15 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rory Finneran
UNDER-18 SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Peter Grogan (St. Mary’s CBS, Carlow)
SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers)
AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Stephen Chambers
HALL OF FAME
Kevin Moran
Sue Hayden
