Paul Doolin named the eircom/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland (SWAI) Personality of the Year for 2007
Paul Doolin has been named the eircom/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland (SWAI) Personality of the Year for 2007 as a result of his achievement in leading Drogheda United to the first Premier Division title in their history.
The Louth club have improved considerably since Doolin came to the helm in 2003 and after FAI Cup success in 2005 and Setanta Cup wins in 2006 and 2007 they stepped up to the plate to win the championship comfortably with three games to spare.
Doolin collects the award for the second time having been crowned the winner in 2002 for his feats with UCD where he started his career in the dugout albeit as a player-boss.
The Dubliner enjoyed a highly successful playing career both North and South of the border. He started with Bohemians in 1981 before moving onto Shamrock Rovers four years later where he won the League and FAI Cup double twice in 1986 and 1987.
Silverware followed upon his move to Derry City where he won the domestic treble in 1989 before eventually moving into the Irish League with Portadown where he won the league and cup in 1991 thus achieving the feat of being the first player to complete a double in both jurisdictions.
After a brief stint back with Rovers he moved onto Shelbourne where he won another league and cup in his first stint with the club. He subsequently spent time with Bohs again and Dundalk before returning to Shels where he was part of another double winning team in 2000. Now, he looks set to enjoy an equally decorated career in management.
Doolin picked up his award at the eircom/SWAI annual banquet in the Radisson Hotel, Dublin. Paul beat off stiff competition from fellow managers Damien Richardson, Stephen Henderson and John McDonnell in addition to one of his star players Brian Shelley and Premier Division top scorer with Longford Dave Mooney.
First division clubs Finn Harps and Dundalk received the honours as the Soccer Writers Association named their Website and Press Officer of the Year for 2007.
The new awards were introduced last year to reward those clubs who are most helpful and professional in their dealings with the media and provide up to date information as regards latest happenings.
Finn Harps' Trevor Gordon was named the Press Officer of the Year just pipping Greg Keane of Wexford Youths and Eanna Buckley of Cork City in the process.
Meanwhile, dundalkfc.com secured the honour in the Website of the Year section after topping the votes in a shortlist which also included the official websites of Finn Harps and Galway United.
There was also recognition on the night for Bohemians goalkeeper Brian Murphy who was named the Goalkeeper of the Year for 2007 after being up for the award along with Shamrock Rovers namesake Barry and Drogheda's title winning stopper Dan Connor.
Murphy was outstanding for the Gypsies in his first season in eircom League football after returning to Ireland following a stint in the UK with Manchester City and Swansea.
The 24 year old had a number of offers to return across the water at the conclusion of the league season. He opted instead to sign a new contract at Dalymount Park following a campaign where his consistency played a big part in Bohs taking third spot in the Premier Division
