Heather Payne is Ireland's Young Women's International Player of the Year
Heather Payne has been named Ireland's Young Women's International Player of the Year for the second successive year.
The Creagh woman was announced among the winners of the 34th Football Association of Ireland (FAI) International Awards at an event at the Aviva Stadium.
Payne, from the Roscommon side of Ballinasloe, played her youth soccer with Ballinasloe Town and the ADSL, before progressing to the Women's League of Ireland, with Peamount.
She now plays with Everton in the Women's Super League.
Chiedozie Ogbene was selected as the Senior Men's International Player of the Year following his first ever nomination, while Courtney Brosnan won the Senior Women's International Player of the Year for the second year in a row.
The Young Men's International Player of the Year was collected by Evan Ferguson, also winning for the second successive year.
Ireland Women's National Team (WNT) captain Katie McCabe scooped the International Goal of the Year Award for her superb strike against Canada at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Nora McHugh became just the sixth woman to be inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame (following Emma Byrne, Anne O'Brien, Paula Gorham, Linda Gorman and Sue Hayden) as the first ever captain of the WNT was recognised for her impact on Irish Football.
Former Men's International Niall Quinn was also honoured as a Hall of Fame inductee. The Dubliner scored 21 times in 92 appearances, including a memorable goal against Netherlands at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The recipient of the Special Merit Award was Michelle O'Neill. The recently-retired match official was celebrated for her outstanding career that included officiating at FIFA Women's World Cups, UEFA Women's European Championships, the UEFA Women's Champions League Final, the UEFA Men's Super Cup Final as well as in the League of Ireland.
The Awards event took place ahead of the UEFA Nations League game between Ireland and Finland with the winners selected from performances taken into account are from June 2023 to June 2024, while the League of Ireland Player of the Year Award refers to performances in the 2023 season.
A jury from Soccer Writers' Ireland helped with the selection of certain categories to help honour those who excelled over the previous year.
34th FAI INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WINNERS
Senior Men's International Player of the Year
Chiedozie Ogbene
Senior Women's International Player of the Year
Courtney Brosnan
Young Men's International Player of the Year
Evan Ferguson
Young Women's International Player of the Year
Heather Payne
International Goal of the Year
WNT | Katie McCabe vs Canada
Men's Under-21 International Player of the Year
Andrew Moran
Men's Under-19 International Player of the Year
Mark O’Mahony
Women's Under-19 International Player of the Year
Kate Thompson
Men's Under-18 International Player of the Year
Danny McGrath
Men's Under-17 International Player of the Year
Harry McGlinchey
Women's Under-17 International Player of the Year
Keeva Flynn
Men's Under-16 International Player of the Year
Michael Noonan
Women's Under-16 International Player of the Year
Ella Kelly
Men's Under-15 International Player of the Year
David Dunne
Under-15 Girls’ FAI Schools International Player of the Year
Madison McGuane (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally)
Under-18 Boys FAI Schools International Player of the Year
Daire Patton (Summerhill College, Sligo)
Football For All International Player of the Year
Chloe Kenna (Street Leagues)
Amateur Player of the Year
Garbhan Friel (Cockhill Celtic)
League of Ireland Men's Player of the Year - Sponsored by SSE Airtricity
Lee Grace (Shamrock Rovers)
Hall of Fame
Niall Quinn
Nora McHugh
Special Merit
Michelle O'Neill