Michael Walsh honoured by Soccer Writers Ireland for 60 years service to Waterford FC - We are WLR FM

There were emotional scenes at Clontarf Castle Hotel yesterday as legendary Waterford FC kitman Michael Walsh was recognised for his 60 years of unstinting service by being honoured with the Special Merit award at the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Annual Awards.

5 December 2025; Waterford kitman Michael Walsh recipient of the Liam Tuohy Special Merit Award with his wife Bride and grandson Richy during the 2025 Soccer Writers Ireland Awards at Clontarf Castle in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Several of his fellow Deise natives, including Ireland assistant manager John O’Shea, were present to celebrate this worthy achievement.

Blues captain Podge Amond was recognised for his goal scoring exploits over the past two seasons when he was presented with his Golden Boot Awards as leading goalscorer in 2024 and 2025.

World Cup-bound Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes of Shamrock Rovers and New York-born Kelly Brady scooped the Personality of the Year awards at Friday’s gala ceremony in Dublin.

Lopes, who captained the Hoops to the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division and FAI Cup double for the first time since 1987, topped the ballot of football media, ahead of his manager Stephen Bradley and Shelbourne boss Joey O’Brien.

Lopes became the first player for five years, and only the third in the last 17 years, to claim the accolade.

Derry City’s Michael Duffy, Shelbourne’s Kerr McInroy and Shamrock Rovers Graham Burke also made this year’s shortlist.

It’s been a remarkable 2025 for Lopes. He helped Cape Verde clinch their first-ever World Cup qualification for next year’s tournament, also collecting a personal landmark of being the first Irish-born player to qualify while operating in the League of Ireland.

After receiving his award, Lopes, along with family and friends, watched from Clontarf Castle as the tournament draw unfolded live from Washington.

Athlone Town striker Kelly Brady was a runaway winner of the Women’s Personality of the Year award, leading the poll from teammate Madison Gibson with Wexford’s Ellen Molloy in third.

She bagged 27 goals for the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division champions, netting a hat-trick in the Cup final as ‘the Town’ won the double for the first time in the club’s history, earning her a maiden Ireland call-up.

The Goalkeeper of the Year award went to Shamrock Rovers’ stopper Ed McGinty, with St Patrick’s Athletic Joseph Anang second and Derry City’s Brian Maher third.

The annual function, attended by over 250 guests, also saw Stephen Staunton feted with the International Achievement award.