Kelly named Irish Women’s U19 Player of the Year at FAI International Awards

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025 - 12:12

Harry Shorthose

Earlier this year, Aoife Kelly’s international career at underage level came to a close when the Irish U19’s team failed to secure qualification for the European Championships. Last Friday night, she rounded off her underage international career by being awarded the U19’s Girls International Player of the Year at the FAI’s annual awards night in the Green Room at the Aviva Stadium.

It is her second underage award after being named as the Under 17 winner two years ago and she was understandably thrilled.

"I’m delighted to be honest. I was nominated for the U17’s award two years ago and won that and then I was nominated for the Under 19 last year but Kate Thompson won it and then I was nominated again this year, and I won so I’ve won at both 17’s and 19’s. I’m very happy. The years that I’ve been playing and I was nominated were some of my favourites, so it’s nice to get rewarded for stuff like that. It’s lovely [to finish with the award], thanks to Dave Connell and all the staff for picking me, it was a great year with all the girls.”

“It was a brilliant year to sign off and then it was nice to top it off with this. I was in the 19’s for two years, and I think it was a successful stint. Obviously we went to the Euros and I made lots of new friendships and relationships with all the staff and the girls so it’s nice to finish it with this. My parents and sister were with me to celebrate too so it was nice. They’ve done so much for me, bringing me to training and matches since I was younger, so it’s their award too in a way.”

Ciara Milton was also nominated in two categories, the U16 International Player of the Season, and the Girls’ Under-15 Schools International Player of the Year, falling short in both. Kelly says it’s fantastic for soccer in Carlow and only good for the future of the girls game for the two of them to be nominated.

“I saw her there and I was talking to her for a little bit. That’s an unbelievable achievement to be nominated for two awards. Ciara’s been doing very well, and she’s been tipping away, I think she’s up at Rovers, and she’s been tipping away with Ireland as well. She’s doing really well and I think it’s great that people from Carlow are doing well, because younger girls can see what happens when you put the work in.”

Milton’s mum, Sinead had previously cited Kelly as an inspiration to Ciara, saying that she looked up to her a lot. Kelly was a little taken aback.

“Really? To be honest, I wouldn’t really think about it too much. I’m just a normal girl from Carlow. That’s really nice though, I think she came up to one of our matches, and I was talking to her after. I think she’s doing really well at Rovers, she’s doing unbelievable. I got to present her with her Player of the Match award for the Leinster Schools a couple of years ago, I think it was the interpros, I think they were paying Ulster.”

35th FAI International Awards Winners

Senior Men’s International Player of the Year - Robbie Brady

Senior Women’s International Player of the Year - Kyra Carusa

Young Men’s International Player of the Year - Finn Azaz

Young Women’s International Player of the Year - Jessie Stapleton

International Goal of the Year MNT | Robbie Brady vs Finland

Men’s Under-21 International Player of the Year - Matt Healy

Men’s Under-19 International Player of the Year - Freddie Turley

Women’s Under-19 International Player of the Year - Aoife Kelly

Men’s Under-18 International Player of the Year - Kyle Fitzgerald

Men’s Under-17 International Player of the Year - Finn Sherlock

Women’s Under-17 International Player of the Year - Madison McGuane