Several Athlone winners at Women's Premier Division awards
There were plenty of winners from Athlone Town at the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Awards last night (Tuesday).
Athlone Town goalkeeper Katie Keane claimed the Young Player of the Year award following a superb season for the league champions.
Athlone native Hazel Donegan was chosen as the EA Sports WU19 LOI Academy Player of the Year. The Athlone Community College student was also part of the Athlone Town senior squad which won the league title and reached the FAI Cup final.
Both Keane and Donegan were selected on the Ireland squad for the 2024 UEFA Women's Under-19 European Championships held in Lithuania last July.
Former Athlone Town boss Ciarán Kilduff – who guided the midlanders to the Women's Premier Division title – was chosen for the Manager of the Year award. Kilduff has since been appointed as manager of the Dundalk men's team.
In addition, five Athlone Town players were picked on the Women's Premier Division Team of the Year: Katie Keane, Jesi Rossman, Laurie Ryan (the captain of the league winners), Roisin Molloy and Madison Gibson.
Galway United's Julie-Ann Russell was selected as the Player of the Year, with her impressive displays having earned a recall to the Ireland women's national squad.
Russell was picked for the award ahead of Athlone trio Gibson, Molloy and Ryan and Shelbourne duo Maggie Pierce and Pearl Slattery.
An event to celebrate the award winners was held at the Aviva Stadium ahead of last night's play-off second leg between Wales and Ireland which saw the Welsh women clinch a place in the 2025 European Championships with a 2-1 victory.
The 2024 SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division awards winners are as follows.
SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Player of the Year: Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United).
SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Young Player of the Year: Katie Keane (Athlone Town).
SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Manager of the Year: Ciarán Kilduff (Athlone Town).
Sports Direct Golden Gloves winner: Amanda McQuillan (Shelbourne).
Evoke.ie Golden Boot winner: Jenna Slattery (Galway United).
EA Sports WU19 LOI Academy Player of the Year: Hazel Donegan (Athlone Town).
EA Sports WU17 LOI Academy Player of the Year: Sorcha Melia (Shamrock Rovers).
Services to League of Ireland awards: Liam Ward, Gordon Ewing, Michelle O’Neill.
SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Team of the Year: Katie Keane (Athlone Town), Pearl Slattery (Shelbourne), Jesi Rossman (Athlone Town), Maggie Pierce (Shelbourne), Laurie Ryan (Athlone Town), Kate Thompson (Galway United), Jenna Slattery (Galway United), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United), Roisin Molloy (Athlone Town), Madison Gibson (Athlone Town), Noelle Murray (Shelbourne).