Andy Moran with his Under-21 Player of the Year award
Andrew Moran has been named Ireland Men’s U-21 International Player of the Year.
Having received his fourth senior call-up ahead of the double-header against Finland and England this week, the midfielder has beaten Sinclair Armstrong and Sam Curtis to the award, confirmed this evening.
While the rest of the winners of the 34th FAI international awards will be announced ahead of Thursday’s Lansdowne Road clash against Finland, Moran was presented with his before training in Abbotstown this afternoon.
With performances from June 2023 to June 2024 taken into account, that period saw Moran establish himself as a mainstay in Jim Crawford’s U-21 side, captaining them on several occasions in their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, which ended in heartbreak in Italy last month as they missed out qualification for the finals in Slovakia.
The Knocklyon man hit a stunning goal in last year’s 3-2 win over Turkey in Cork, which is also nominated for Goal of the Year, while a goal and assist followed in a win away to San Marino last March before he found the net again in a June friendly win over Croatia. He finished his U-21 career last month with five goals and six assists in 15 appearances.
Moran, who turns 22 on Friday, earned his Ireland senior debut under Stephen Kenny against New Zealand 12 months ago and was also on the bench under John O’Shea for the friendly defeat at home to Switzerland in March.
Having earned a first call-up under current boss Heimir Hallgrimsson last week, he’ll hope to win his second cap at home to Finland this Thursday before the Boys in Green conclude the Nations League campaign away to Lee Carsley’s England on Sunday evening – the first competitive clash between the sides at Wembley since 1991.
Moran has risen through the ranks at Brighton having signed from Bray Wanderers in 2020, and is on loan at Stoke this season where he has impressed with two goals and four assists in 16 appearances so far.
“Obviously on the occasions I have been called up to the senior squad, it has been a dream come true, an unbelievable feeling to be among the top 26 players of your nation. It’s incredible,” said Moran in September.