Brian Maher nominated for 'Goalkeeper of the Year' award

Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher has been shortlisted for ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ in the 2023 SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland flagship awards.

The 23-year-old has been one of the stars in the League this season, helping Derry City to a second place finish and European qualification as well as a memorable extended run in the Europa Conference League.

He was the only member of the City squad to feature in every league game this past season, playing every single minute and keeping 23 clean sheets in 44 games overall throughout the campaign.  

The 2023 SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland flagship nominees were released earlier today.  

The Men’s Personality of the Year, Women’s Personality of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year awards will be presented at a banquet at the Royal Dublin Convention Centre on Friday December 8, 2023.

In the Men’s Personality of the Year category, four of the six nominees are managers - including league and cup winning bosses Stephen Bradley and Jon Daly.

Shamrock Rovers’ Bradley led the Hoops to a record equalling fourth successive Premier Division title, with a comfortable winning margin of seven points in the end.

St Patrick's Athletic manager Jon Daly lifted the FAI Cup at the end of a strong campaign, which also saw his side finish third in the league, securing European football in 2024. Their success came despite Daly only taking full time charge of the club in May.

Like Daly, Kevin Doherty receives a first nomination in this category after guiding Drogheda United to an impressive seventh place finish despite their part-time status and limited resources. United enjoyed wins over Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and St Pat's in the league season.

Meanwhile, Damien Duff receives his second nomination having led Shelbourne back into European competition for the first time in 17 years courtesy of a fourth place league finish.

Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto Pico Lopes is acknowledged for his excellent season with the champions, where he balanced domestic and European concerns at club level with international duties with Cape Verde.

Ruairi Keating, who left Cork City for St Patrick's Athletic last week, completes the shortlist after a stellar season with the Leesiders where he hit 15 goals in all competitions in his first season back in the top-flight.

In the Women’s Personality of the Year, four players and two managers make up the six-person short list.

Peamount United's experienced former Republic of Ireland international Karen Duggan captained a regenerated Peas to a third league win in five seasons while her 20-year-old teammate Erin McLaughlin enjoyed a standout season as she assumed greater responsibility in the United side.

Peamount's representation on the shortlist is added to by league winning manager James O'Callaghan, who became the league's most decorated manager with his third league title at the helm.

Ciaran Kilduff is nominated having ended his first season in charge of Athlone Town with a dramatic FAI Cup final penalty shootout win this month. The ex-League of Ireland player won 11 of his 13 games as manager.

Much of Athlone's success this term can be attributed to the form of striker Dana Scheriff, her goal haul seeing the New York forward finish top of the league scoring charts. She also netted in the cup final at Tallaght Stadium.

Shamrock Rovers' Aine O’Gorman receives her third nomination in this category, after starring for the new Shamrock Rovers Women's team in 2023.

The Goalkeeper of the Year award will be contested by Derry City’s Brian Maher, Shelbourne's Conor Kearns, and Peamount United No.1 Niamh Reid Burke, the first woman to receive a nod in this category in its 20-year history.

Men's Personality of the Year

Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers)

Jon Daly (St Patrick’s Athletic)

Kevin Doherty (Drogheda United)

Damien Duff (Shelbourne)

Ruairi Keating (Cork City FC)

Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers)

Women's Personality of the Year

Karen Duggan (Peamount United)

Ciaran Kilduff (Athlone Town)

Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United)

James O'Callaghan (Peamount United)

Aine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers)

Dana Scheriff (Athlone Town)

Goalkeeper of the Year

Conor Kearns (Shelbourne)

Brian Maher (Derry City)

Niamh Reid Burke (Peamount United)