The 2014 SSE Airtricity League season is in the record books. All that's left to do is hand out the 2nd annual Balls.ie awards. Ladies and gentlemen, here are your winners:
1) Goal of the season
It's Chris Forrester's stunning 40+ yard volley for St Pats against Drogheda United in May. The closest contenders were Jason Byrne against Pats and Colin Healy, also against Pats. Forrester's edges it mainly because you don't see that shot attempted, never mind converted.
2) Manager of the Year
It's tempting to always award the league winner the manager of the year title but it's no knock on Stephen Kenny to award this to Cork City's John Caulfield. Throughout the season, pundit after pundit continued to dismiss them as legitimate title challengers based, mainly, on their perceived weaker squad. But there they were, just 45 scoreless minutes away from winning the title in Oriel Park. In his first season as manager, Caulfield rallie the whole city behind the team and they're sure to be there next season fighting for honours again.
3) The Teams of the Year
3a Top 4 team of the year
Murphy (Rovers)
Gannon (Dundalk) Boyle (Dundalk) Murray (Cork) Bermingham (Pats)
Towell (Dundalk) Shields (Dundalk) Morrissey (Cork)
Byrne (Pats) Fagan (Pats) Horgan (Dundalk)
3a Team of the year from the rest of the league
Ryan (Limerick)
Pender (Bohs) Lopes (Bohs) Folan (Limerick) Desmond (Shels)
Russell (Sligo) Wearan (Bohs) Holohon (Drogs)
Duffy (Derry) Gaffney (Limerick) P McEleney (Derry)
4) Dirtbird of the year
Gavin Brennan was sent off 4 times for Drogheda United in league and cup action. He missed 14 games through suspension (and will serve 2 more next season). That's over a third of the season. Oh and all the sendings off were straight red cards too.
5) The overplayed refereeing decision of the year
Here is the damaged penalty spot pic.twitter.com/RxOTwGHZpu — Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) August 18, 2014
There was lots of back and forth about Tom Connolly's decision to postpone the Bohs and Rovers derby game in August. Bohs were clearly furious when Rob Rogers (part of the refereeing team that night) posted pictures of Dalymount's pitch (since deleted). And it went on and on.
6) Comeback of the year.
Soccer Republic rants. Ok so technically this is the first year of Soccer Republic but we all just see it as MNS with a new name. There was some doozies this season. Witness the awkward aftermath of Alan Cawley caling out Trevor Croly on the show (shortly before Croly was sacked). However's the years best rant went to professional old forget Dermot Keely and his "Liverpool fans are morons" (we're paraphrasing a little...) classic. Speaking of rants Brian Kerr wasn't afraid to put the boot into Roddy Collins in May.
7) The "annus horribilis" award
This can only go to one man; Roddy Collins. He started the year with a new job in the Premier Division, hoping to complete a full season for the first time since 2001. He lasted 12 games before Derry sacked him. Shortly before getting the boot Collins had said he wouldn't pay to watch the horrible football he had his team playing and Derry fans and board had had enough. Collins has stated a desire to return to Bohs as manager but when that vacancy arose, they wanted nothing to do with him. So now he's left with 10 minutes a week on Newstalk where he gets to moan about the league that doesn't want anything to do with him and his anti-football.
8) The line of the year
When Christy Fagan rolled in the second goal to clinch the FAI Cup for St Patrick's Athletic last week, RTE's George Hamilton finished his description of the goal with
And Brian Kerr is in tears!
Pats love/hate relationship with the cup was well documented and no one could deny Kerr deserved to shed a couple of happy tears (and plenty more Pats fans like him). Irish football's biggest obsession is over. Something will have to take it's place.
9) The #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld Tweets of the Year
9a The Dundalk FC "Wheelies King" award
@DundalkFC's Ali Gator, getting ready for tonight's game in Ocean Bar & Grill, Bray #DFC pic.twitter.com/KQUMywsFim
— Dundalk FC (@DundalkFC) April 25, 2014
9b The "Shut up Cork with your shite "banter" " Award
What was that? We couldn't quite hear you? #Bohs pic.twitter.com/dLuguFGKhl — Bohemian FC (@bfcdublin) August 25, 2014
For more check out the LOI Clubs On Twitter Tumblr.
10) The only awards that matter award.
Congrats to Dundalk on winning the league title. They were the best team for most of the season and the best team always wins the league. They did so scoring a ton of goals and if they can hold on to their best players they'll be exciting to watch next season too. Congrats too to St Pats for finally winning that 3rd FAI Cup after 53 years of trying and to Longford and Galway for earning promotion too. Next year should be another cracker!
