Aiden McGeady and Colin Healy were among the prize winners last night at the FAI 25th Annual Awards.
McGeady picked up the international goal of the year for his winning goal away to Georgia in September which got Martin O’Neill’s side off to a winning start in their bid to reach France 2016.
Healy picked up the honour for being the League of Ireland’s Player of the Year, following 2013 winner Richie Towell, for his efforts at Cork City.
McGeady and Healy both started their career’s at Celtic although they never played in the same team with Healy making his debut in 1999 and McGeady five years later.
At 35-years-of age the Player of the Year award is a fitting one for Healy who has battled through a number of obstacles to star with his home town club.
Two serious leg breaks while playing in England curtailed his development after the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the 2002 World Cup after Roy Keane’s protracted withdrawal from Mick McCarrthy’s squad.
In 2007 he signed for Cork City but found himself back in England two years later when Keane took him to Ipswich Town.
Elsewhere at the awards John O’Shea was voted International Player of the Year with his late equaliser away to World Cup holders Germany giving Ireland their best result of the year.
On the pitch Anthony Stokes has been named in O’Neill’s squad for Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland at the Aviva Stadium with a win crucial with four teams in contention for two qualifying places with the third placed side going into a qualifier.
