The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) today announced their nominees for the 2007 Player of the Year Awards with league champions Drogheda United holding two of the six names shortlisted in the Premier Division section.
Drogheda's Shane Robinson and Brian Shelley are joined in the Premier Division shortlist alongside Keith Fahey (St Patrick's Athletic), Joe Gamble (Cork City), David Mooney (Longford Town) and Brian Murphy (Bohemian FC).
The winner will be announced at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin this Sunday (18th) where the First Division Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and Referee of the Year will also be named. The Premier and First Division teams of the year were also announced today.
The awards evening is sponsored by Ford and part of the deal will see the winners of the Premier and First Division awards gain exclusive use of a new Ford Focus car for the following year.
"It is great to be involved in something that provides direct rewards and recognition for the players and I would like to congratulate the nominees for the PFAI Players' Awards and also the individuals named on the Premier and First Division teams of the season," said Eddie Murphy, chief executive of Ford Ireland.
"The Premier Division team of the year is made up of players from eight different clubs which has opened up dramatically from the last two years where only three clubs were recognised," said Stephen McGuinness, acting General Secretary of the PFAI. "In the First Division it's great to see a newcomer to the League of Ireland, Conor Sinnott of Wexford Youths, made the team alongside players from the champions Cobh Ramblers and Finn Harps.
The nominees are:
Premier Division
Keith Fahey (St Patrick's Athletic)
Joe Gamble (Cork City)
David Mooney (Longford Town)
Brian Murphy (Bohemian FC)
Shane Robinson (Drogheda United)
Brian Shelley (Drogheda United)
First Division
Conor Gethins (Finn Harps)
Shane Guthrie (Cobh Ramblers)
Tony Shields (Finn Harps)
Young Player
Conor Powell (Bohemian FC)
Mark Quigley (St Patrick's Athletic)
Conor Sammon (UCD)
Referee
Conor Fitzgerald
Alan Kelly
Paul Tuite
eircom League Premier Division Team of the Year 2007
1. Brian Murphy (Bohemian FC)
2. Brian Shelley (Drogheda United)
3. Simon Webb (Drogheda United)
4. Joe Gamble (Cork City)
5. Ken Oman (Derry City)
6. Graham Gartland (Drogheda United)
7. Keith Fahey (St Patrick's Athletic)
8. Adam Hughes (Sligo Rovers)
9. David Mooney (Longford Town)
10. Mark Quigley (St Patrick's Athletic)
11. Derek O'Brien (Galway United)
eircom League First Division Team of the Year 2007
1. James Gallagher (Finn Harps)
2. Alan Carey (Cobh Ramblers)
3. Shaun Holmes (Finn Harps)
4. Tony Shields (Finn Harps)
5. Pat Purcell (Limerick 37)
6. Shane Guthrie (Cobh Ramblers)
7. James Chambers (Shelbourne)
8. Conor Sinnott (Wexford Youths)
9. Conor Gethins (Finn Harps)
10. Graham Cummins (Cobh Ramblers)
11. Davin O'Neill (Cobh Ramblers)
