Keating and Lopes up against standout managers for men's personality of the year award
JUST REWARD: St. Patrick's Athletic's Ruairí Keating during his Cork City days. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
The nominees for the 2023 SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland flagship awards have been announced.
In the men’s personality of the year category, four of the six nominees are managers - league and cup-winning bosses Stephen Bradley and Jon Daly.
The duo are joined by Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty and Damien Duff of Shelbourne.
The remaining two on the shortlist are League of Ireland Premier Division players - Ruairí Keating and Roberto Lopes.
Keating, who left Cork City for St Patrick's Athletic last week, has been nominated after a stellar season with the Rebel Army where he hit 15 goals in all competitions.
The striker has also been shortlisted for the PFAI player of the year gong alongside recent Republic of Ireland call-up, Jonathan Afolabi and new teammate Chris Forrester.
Having returned to the City side in mid-August after a leave of absence taken following the tragic death of his father Ciarán in July, Keating hit a career-first hat-trick in the league win against Sligo Rovers at the start of September.
Shamrock Rovers defender Lopes is acknowledged for his excellent season with the champions, where he balanced domestic and European concerns at club level with international duties with Cape Verde.
Shamrock Rovers’ Bradley led the Hoops to a record-equalling fourth successive Premier Division title, with a comfortable winning margin of seven points in the end.
St Patrick's Athletic manager Jon Daly - who only took full-time charge of the club in May - lifted the FAI Cup at the end of a strong campaign, which also saw his side finish third in the league, securing European football in 2024.
Damien Duff led Shelbourne back into European competition for the first time in 17 years courtesy of a fourth-place league finish.
Like the aforementioned Daly, Kevin Doherty received a first nomination in this category after guiding Drogheda United to an impressive seventh-place finish despite their part-time status and limited resources.
In the women’s personality of the year, four players and two managers make up the six-person shortlist.
Peamount United's experienced former Republic of Ireland international Karen Duggan captained a regenerated Peas to a third league win in five seasons while 20-year-old Erin McLaughlin enjoyed a fruitful campaign.
Peamount's representation on the shortlist is added to by league-winning manager James O'Callaghan, who became the league's most decorated manager with his third league title at the helm.
Ciaran Kilduff is nominated having ended his first season in charge of Athlone Town with a dramatic FAI Cup final penalty shootout win this month.
Athlone's top-scoring striker Dana Scheriff has also been nominated.
Shamrock Rovers' Aine O’Gorman receives her third nomination in this category, after starring for the new Shamrock Rovers Women's team in 2023.
The goalkeeper of the year award will be contested by Derry City’s Brian Maher, Shelbourne's Conor Kearns, and Peamount United No.1 Niamh Reid Burke.
Reid Burke becomes the first woman to receive a nod in this category in its 20-year history.
The awards will be presented at a banquet at the Royal Dublin Convention Centre on Friday, December 8.
Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers); Jon Daly (St Patrick’s Athletic); Kevin Doherty (Drogheda United); Damien Duff (Shelbourne); Ruairí Keating (Cork City FC); Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers).
Karen Duggan (Peamount United); Ciaran Kilduff (Athlone Town); Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United); James O'Callaghan (Peamount United); Aine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers); Dana Scheriff (Athlone Town).
Conor Kearns (Shelbourne); Brian Maher (Derry City); Niamh Reid Burke (Peamount United).
