While Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers turned heads at home and abroad, few trails were blazed in Irish international football in 2024, the Chinese Year of the Dragon.
The Irish men’s team ended the year under new gaffer, Heimir Hallgrimsson, with a five-goal whipping at Wembley, while the women’s team coughed up a golden chance to reach the European Championships final for the first time.
For the men’s U21s, the finals famine continued too, after they blew leads at home to Latvia and Norway to miss out on qualification.
In Abbotstown, Jonathan Hill cleared his desk as CEO and returned to London, to be replaced by David Courell, whose first big call was to deliver grim tidings for women’s manager Eileen Gleeson.
Here are my football festive ‘awards’ for 2024.
The ‘Cat Out Of The Bag Trapattoni’ award
Marc Canham, the FAI’s Director of Football, was so certain that Heimir Hallgrimsson would be on board ‘in early April’ that he announced the imminent appointment on March 10, yet it would be over four months before the Iceman finally cometh.
The ‘Andy Dufresne Patience’ award
John O’Shea took the helm twice as interim Irish manager, returning a win and a draw in four games against teams headed for the Euro finals.
When the FAI bypassed him for the top job, he accepted the role of No 2 under Hallgrimsson.
The ‘True Grit’ award
Shared by Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor. Both made their Irish debuts, and also played in the Premier League to complete their journeys from the National League, League Two, League One and the Championship. Take a bow, Tractor Boys.
The ‘Believe In Buddah’ award
After Shelbourne won 2-0 at Shamrock Rovers in May, Damien Duff paraphrased The Buddah. ‘I don’t know his proper name but he said, “What you think, you become.”‘ And Shels did just that, they became champions as Duff led the Reds to the title.
The ‘USS Enterprise’ award
Stephen Bradley, Shamrock Rovers have boldly gone where no Irish club has gone before in Europe, to Iceland, Cechia, Slovenia, Greece, Northern
Ireland, Austria, and now London. And the Hoops are not finished in the ECL yet.
The ‘King Of The Comeback’ award
Winning nine Premier Division games on the spin is rare, especially for a team leaking oil. On his return to the league, Stephen Kenny not only revived St Parick’s Athletic, he steered them to a fast-finishing third and secured Euro qualification.
The ‘One For The Good Guys’ award
Kevin Doherty’s decision to quit his job as a postie and go full-time at Drogheda United manager was a risk that paid off with FAI Cup glory, Euro qualification and Premier Division survival. Only the flintiest of hearts could resent Doherty’s success.
The ‘Burst Balloon’ award
The double was within reach for Derry City as autumn leaves were falling. Somehow, the Candystripes got caught up in the expectations and ended up empty-handed. After an abject FAI Cup final performance, Ruaidhri Higgins walked the plank.
The ‘Pyrrhic Victory’ award
To the FAI, who trumpeted the acceptance by the General Assembly of an alignment in the football calendar at grassroots level. That 43% voted against the change should force the FAI to review the current proposals and sit down with the dissenters.
The ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ award
Also for the FAI, who are pushing ahead with a 20-team National League to provide a pathway to the First Division, whose clubs face relegation.
Kerry FC, conferred with senior status to promote football in the Kingdom, must be jumping for joy.
The ‘Feelgood Moment Of The Year’ award
Nine Ireland players, who donned their boots in the 3-0 win against the USSR in 1974, were given a standing ovation at the Soccer Writers’ event in Clontarf Castle. The emotion in the room towards these legends of the game was hugely moving.
The ‘Missed Opportunity Of A Lifetime’ award
The Irish women’s team had it all going for them against Wales in the Euro play-offs; home advantage, a bumper crowd, and better players too. Dragged into a dog-fight, they lost. For manager Eileen Gleeson, the bacon slicer beckoned.
The ‘Costly Comment’ award
Asked to clarify a secret five-figure payment in lieu of untaken holidays, Jonathan Hill waffled in front of the General Assembly, and in Leinster House, before insisting the cash ended up in his account over a throwaway remark. He departed as CEO in April.
The ‘Grass Is Greener’ award
No Irish striker has impressed in the top tier of Dutch football like Troy Parrott. After 10 goals in 25 games with Excelsior last season, Parrott is third in the Eredivisie lists with nine goals in 16 games for AZ Alkmaar. Only 22, his best is yet to come.