INVINCIBLE

Linfield scoop all top accolades to add to their incredible treble

TREBLE winning Linfield celebrated a clean sweep at last night’s annual Northern Ireland Football Writers Association awards dinner in Belfast. At the end of a triumphant campaign which saw the Blues lift the Danske Bank Premiership title, Irish Cup and County Antrim Shield, the Big Two giants won the four main top flight awards on offer. David Healy, above, picked up the prestigious Belleek Manager of the Year gong, while influential captain Jamie Mulgrew was named Belleek Footballer of the Year. To complete the set, teenage Linfield winger Paul Smyth was named Event Exhibition Young Player of the Year and Roy Carroll picked up the Uhlsport Goalkeeper award. Boss Healy, who delivered a first domestic treble of trophies for Linfield since 2008, pipped Ballymena United’s David Jeffrey and Coleraine boss Oran Kearney to the managerial award. The former Northern Ireland striker said it had been “a honour and privilege to manage Linfield and to three trophies”. He added: “The players deserve immense credit for the character and run of form they showed since January, particularly when a lot of people were questioning whether they had the bottle.” Mulgrew, who was also named Ulster Footballer of the Year 10 days ago, became the first Linfield player since Michael Gault in 2008 to win the top players award. The 30-year-old had been nominated for the trophy alongside team-mates Stephen Lowry and veteran shot stopper Carroll who enjoyed a remarkable debut season at Windsor Park. Talented Northern Ireland U21 forward Smyth was named leading young player ahead of Coleraine duo Jamie Mcgonigle and Lyndon Kane. Elsewhere, Northern Ireland defender Gareth Mcauley, who scored in last summer’s historic Euro 2016 win over Ukraine, won the International Personality of the Year. Cliftonville Ladies midfielder Marissa Callaghan was named Women’s Personality of the Year. Limavady United won Belleek Non-senior team of the year, while John Mcguigan was named Championship player of the year following an impressive campaign with Warrenpoint Town. Former Manchester United midfielder Sammy Mcilroy was inducted into the Dr Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame, while longserving Linfield kitman Andy Kerr picked up the Merit Award. The Eventsec Goal of the Season went to Coleraine striker James Mclaughlin for his recent long range effort against Crusaders at Seaview.

THE BLUE BRIGADE Paul Smyth, Jamie Mulgrew and Roy Carroll last night