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Dundalk’s Michael Duffy took home the Premier Division Player of the Year award at the PFAI awards in the Marker Hotel in Dublin tonight.
The Derry born midfielder shone for the double winners in 2018, hitting 13 goals and picking up two Player of the Month gongs in April and August.
He finished the year with his first League of Ireland Premier Division medal having signed for Dundalk from Celtic at the beginning of the 2017 season.
Michael Duffy from @DundalkFC
wrapping up a brilliant season for himself and the club with his award for Premier Division Player of the Year #PFAIrelandawards18 pic.twitter.com/VHgO0txiYx— PFA Ireland (@PFAIOfficial) November 10, 2018
This week, Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill described Duffy as an “exceptionally talented player”, noting that the “paperwork was there” on his switch of allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
Duffy made 12 underage appearances for Northern Ireland and was called up to their senior squad for a World Cup qualifier in 2016 but this year said he wished to switch to the Republic.
Pick that out! What a goal from Michael Duffy. @DundalkFC lead Levadia Tallinn 2-1 at Oriel Park (3-1 on aggregate) and you’ll do very well to find a better finish anywhere in Europe tonight than this peach of a volley #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/ArDW8MxkAt
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 19, 2018
The Young Player of the Year award went to Duffy’s Dundalk teammate Jamie McGrath. The 22-year old signed for the champions from St Patrick’s Athletic at the end of 2016 and has become an increasingly influential presence since. UCD’s Gary O’Neill won the First Division player of the year award.
Unsurprisingly, the Premier Division manager of the year award went to Stephen Kenny once more. The Dubliner led Dundalk to the second league and cup double of his reign and a fourth league title in five years.
Stephen Kenny wins Manager of Year at the @PFAIOfficial awards, uses the platform to speak very eloquently about the homeless crisis, hard to follow that ?
— Marie Crowe (@mariecrowe) November 10, 2018
UCD’s Collie O’Neill took the First Division manager of the year award, having led the students back to the Premier Division.
Áine O’Gorman, who retired from international football this year after earning a century of caps, was honoured with a special achievement award.
Denise O’Sullivan, who won the US NWSL championship with North Carolina Courage this year, won the International Women’s Footballer of the Year award. Her international teammate Rianna Jarrett took home the Continental Tyres Women’s National League player of the year last night.
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