With the season officially over, Con takes a look back and offers up his League of Ireland award winners for 2009.
Most embarrassing moment of the year:
Me for saying that the Tubercurry Tornado – Rafaele Cretaro had scored the only goal in a midweek game for Sligo Rovers, when in fact Eoin Doyle had been the scorer. Although I've just decided that I can’t give myself an award.
Therefore, the runaway winner is Sean Prunty, who can thank his pals for sending in a photo of him dressed in women's underwear-you couldn't make this stuff up. He maintains it was as part of a fancy dress outfit. I believe him, millions wouldn't.
Joint winners. Con Murphy and Sean Prunty.
Player of the year:
It's hard to argue with his fellow professionals who voted Gary Twigg the PFAI Ford Player of the Year. His 24 goals played a massive part in Rovers chase of Bohemians for the title.
Scoring the first ever goal at Tallaght for Rovers has carved his name in the history books, and in the hearts of Rovers fans.
Winner: Gary Twigg.
Goal of the season:
Without doubt Michael McGowan's wonder-strike from just over the halfway line against Derry City on the last night of the season. Beckham eat your heart out.
For the second year in a row, the League of Ireland goal of the season is as good as any goal you’ll see anywhere this year.
Winner: Michael McGowan.
Referee of the year:
I know that the PFAI Ford referee of the year is Alan Kelly, and without doubt he's had another outstanding season, but my award goes to Dave McKeon.
Every time I saw him this season he allowed the game to flow, and any referee who uses the advantage rule sensibly gets my vote. He missed part of the season through injury but still gets my vote.
Winner: Dave McKeon.
Most disappointing performance in Europe:
Sligo Rovers are runaway winners of this one, having been knocked out by Albanian opposition that nobody’s ever heard of, and are unlikely to hear of in the future.
Winner: Sligo Rovers
Worst haircut of the season:
There are a few to choose from but I think this one has got to go to St.Patricks Athletics' Californian, Ryan Guy, during his Billy Ray Cyrus Mullet spell midway through the season.
Thankfully he's seen sense and been to the barbers since.
Winner: Ryan Guy
Late goals conceded against European opposition can be such a kick in the 'you know whats':
For Bohemias late concession versus Salzburg in the Champions League at Dalymount, and for Shamrock Rovers who went down 1-0 to a late Karim Benzema goal against Real Madrid in Tallaght.
Joint winners: Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers.
Most memorable after match quote from a player:
Drogheda's Jamie Duffy takes this one without too much opposition, for his: 'When I was younger I played up front before, at junior level, so it wasn't much of a step up, but going in there…..actually, I don't know what I’m talking about!'
Refreshing after match honesty from Jamie. A worthy award winner.
Winner: Jamie Duffy.
Biggest let down of the season:
There are some bookmaking firms who would have paid out early on this one, and got their fingers burned.
It looked as if the Cork City delayed payment of players which led to 'busgate' would be the nailed on winner of this award until the Derry City dual contract issue came up on the rails in the final furlong to pip the Leesiders to this less than coveted award.
Winner: Derry City.
Worst kit of the season:
Happily no League of Ireland club are contending for this one.
The winners are undoubtedly CSKA Sofia, for their brownish away kit, when they faced Derry City in the Europa League this season. Awful doesn't describe it.
FIFA should instigate a new rule that clubs shouldn’t be allowed wear brown kit. As Jack Nicklaus once said, 'It looks like s-h-one-t.'
Winner: CSKA Sofia.
Best match programme:
Goes to Sligo Rovers, for their matchday programme/magazine for the European tie against Vlaznia.
It was an example of what can be done, and a template for others to follow.
In general the quality of programmes has increased greatly over the last number of years, but it would be nice to see a bit more of a cutting edge to the editorial content.
Winner: Sligo Rovers.
Best music choice for goal of the month:
Goes to MNS team member, James O'Toole, who selected 'Readers Wives' and the track 'One Two' for the August Goal of the month competition.
Incidentally, the singer with the band Niall Holohans's father played for St Pat's and his brother played for Shamrock Rovers in the past.
We also learned after that track was played that Johnny McDonnell loves ska music and Damien Richardson had never heard of it!
An honourable runner up is another MNSer Eamonn Donohoe who picked Sunset Vista and the track 'Revenge' for the October goal of the month competition.
Their drummer is a big Longford Town fan, and I'm reliably informed that their first single is released in early December.
They still haven’t let me pick a track. Next season my day will come.
Winner: James O'Toole.
The Brummie Steve (our editor) 'I'd like him to join Keith Fahey at Birmingham award':
Winner: Gary Deegan of Bohemians.
And finally - The best moment of the season:
I hope you'll forgive me for choosing the moment that the players of Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers walked out the tunnel back in March for the first ever game at Tallaght Stadium.
To look around and see so many people with tears in their eyes and sheer delight in their hearts after the Hoops two decades without a home, was something to behold.
Winner: Shamrock Rovers v Sligo Rovers.
Let's hope season 2010 brings many more memorable moments. Great goals, good football, nice weather to watch the games, less financial shenanigans, and more and more people coming to games and supporting their local team instead of a foreign team, in a foreign country.
