Ferguson and Curtis are examples to others in the way they have stayed focused on their careers

The FAI awards given to Meath pair Evan Ferguson and Sam Curtis for their performances over the past year was another indication of the rich potential possessed by both teenagers - and hopefully we'll hear a lot more of these two players in the coming years.

Ferguson was a shoe-in for the FAI's Young Men's Player of the Year after a sensational season with Brighton and Ireland while Curtis claimed the Men's u-18 International Player of the Year award again for his consistency and dedication to the cause.

Ferguson scored his second senior goal for Ireland against Gibraltar on Monday night to add to his strike against Latvia earlier in the year.

Last Friday night Ferguson and Darragh Lenihan created a little piece of Irish football history when they became the first two Meath players to start a competitive senior game for Ireland.

Curtis too, who is still only 17, has shown himself to be a true star with impressive displays for St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier. He has also played at every level for Ireland from u-15 up to u-21 and hopefully he can, like Ferguson, push on to win a senior cap.

Both Ferguson and Curtis have shown a tremendous focus and maturity in their respective careers. They have kept their eye on the ball as it were and haven't allowed themselves to be distracted by the hype and the limelight.

Somewhere in their make-up is the desire to become as good as they can be as footballers; to ignore the media and all the other kinds of attention, that could so easily become distractions.

Both players were winners at the 2022 Meath Chronicle Sports Awards where were held in the Newbridge Hotel earlier this year - now the FAI too have honoured them for their efforts. Brilliant.

Taking in performances from June 2022-June 2023, the annual FAI awards brought together many people to celebrate those who have made a big impact on Irish football.

Defender Nathan Collins won the Senior Men's International Player of the Year award and goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was named as the Senior Women's International Player of the Year following superb seasons.

Evan Ferguson was selected as the Young Men's Player of the Year and Heather Payne collected the first ever Young Women's Player of the Year award.

WNT forward Amber Barrett pipped Collins and fellow senior team-mate Michael Obafemi to claiming the International Goal of the Year for her finish against Scotland that helped Vera Pauw's team qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

Rebekah Grant won the Football For All International Player of the Year after playing a key role in the Deaf Women's Futsal Team qualifying for this year's World Cup.

This year's recipient of the Special Merit Award is Niamh O'Donoghue. She was the first woman elected to the FAI Council, the first woman elected to the FAI Board and someone who had a significant impact in shaping the structures of women and girls' football.

The two inductees into the FAI Hall of Fame are former international defender Kevin Moran and ex-WNT goalkeeper Sue Hayden - two legendary figures for their respective teams.

A jury of members from Soccer Writers' Ireland helped select some of the nominees and winners from seven different categories.

33rd FAI INTERNATIONAL AWARDS WINNERS

SENIOR MEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Nathan Collins

YOUNG MEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Evan Ferguson

SENIOR WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Courtney Brosnan

YOUNG WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Heather Payne

INTERNATIONAL GOAL OF THE YEAR

WNT | Amber Barrett v Scotland

MEN’S UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Will Smallbone

MEN’S UNDER-19 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sean Grehan

MEN’S UNDER-18 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sam Curtis

MEN’S UNDER-17 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Naj Razi

MEN’S UNDER-16 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Matthew Moore

MEN’S UNDER-15 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rory Finneran

UNDER-18 SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Peter Grogan (St. Mary’s CBS, Carlow)

WOMEN’S UNDER-19 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Scarlett Herron

WOMEN’S UNDER-17 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Aoife Kelly

WOMEN’S UNDER-16 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Freya Healy

UNDER-15 GIRLS SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Abigail Bradshaw (St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon)

FOOTBALL FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rebekah Grant (Deaf Futsal)

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rory Gaffney (Shamrock Rovers)

AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Stephen Chambers

SPECIAL MERIT

Niamh O'Donoghue

HALL OF FAME

Kevin Moran

Sue Hayden