Soccer Writers Awards on Friday night
QuoteCork City manager Damien Richardson has being named as the eircom/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Personality of the Year for 2005.
In a double victory for the Leesiders, Cork City goalkeeper Michael Devine won the eircom/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year Award while legendary broadcaster Philip Greene was a winner of the Special Merit Accolade.
Cork City boss Richardson beat off stiff competition from City players George O'Callaghan and Joe Gamble, and Derry City trio, Stephen Kenny, Peter Hutton and Mark Farren to win the award for the first time.
Richardson broke the old rule about never returning to former pastures when he accepted the job of replacing Pat Dolan as manager of City just before the start of the season.
Having previously managed City ten years ago, 'Rico' believed he had "unfinished business" and vowed to win the title for the Turner's Cross faithful.
He delivered on his promise as City claimed the title with a record points total of 74 points – while he also achieved a personal goal by lifting his first ever title as a player or manager.
City also came close to achieving the double as they reached the FAI Carlsberg Cup final while they did the eircom League proud in the UEFA Cup as they disposed of Lithuanians Ekranes and Djurgarden of Sweden before being knocked out by top Czech Republic outfit Slavia Prague.
A former Republic of Ireland international, Richardson earned his spurs with the famous Shamrock Rovers team of the 1960s before moving to England with Gillingham.
After hanging up his boots, he moved into management with Gillingham in 1989 before returning to Ireland with Cork City in 1993. Spells at Cobh Ramblers, Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers before his return to Cork in February of last year.
Cork City goalkeeper Devine claimed the eircom/SWAI goalkeeper of the Year award being off competition from Derry's David Forde and Shamrock Rovers' Barry Murphy.
Devine, 32, was inspirational both in domestic and European competition as Cork City enjoyed their most successful season ever. Devine kept 16 clean sheets in total conceding just 18 goals as Cork won the League title while his two clean sheets in the UEFA Cup against Ekranes and Djurgarden were crucial to Cork's progress.
A native of Cork, Devine started out with local side Springfield before moving to England with Middlesbrough. After four years at Ayrsome Park, he moved on briefly to Newcastle United and non-League Northallerton before returning to Ireland with Cobh Ramblers.
He moved on again to Waterford United winning promotion in 1998 before joining Cork City in 2000. A regular ever since, Devine made a club record 117 consecutive appearances before missing three games last season through injury while only Phil Harrington has played more games in goal for City.
Iconic broadcaster Philip Greene picked up the Special Merit Award for his remarkable services to sport, and soccer in particularly, during his 40-year broadcasting career.
Greene's well-known voice was first heard by the Irish public in 1946 when he replaced Eamonn Andrews as Radio Eireann's Soccer Correspondent.
He would eventually go on to become Radio Eireann's Head of Sport before moving to television in 1962 when he became RTE's first ever Soccer commentator.
His voice would become recognisable to almost anyone in Ireland up until his retirement in 1986 as he covered World Cups, European Championships, Olympic Games and European Athletics Championships.
But it was soccer that was Greene's first love as, ironically, he played for Bohemians before going on to become possible Shamrock Rovers most famous supporter ever.
Originally Posted by James
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