Roma McLaughlin and Tyler Toland both claimed top awards at the 2016 ‘Three’ FAI International Football Awards yesterday.

Roma McLaughlin has been named International Under-19 Women’s Player of the Year. Roma graduated into the senior team in 2016 and recently competed with the Colin Bell-managed seniors at the Cyprus Cup.

The Greencastle woman McLaughlin is in her final year with the Under-19s and recently signed for Shelbourne at club level.

Roma McLaughlin, image via RTE

The midfielder has really risen through the ranks and 2016 was a massive year for her.

McLaughlin has the Elite Qualifiers coming up with the Republic of Ireland Under-19s when a place at the summer’s finals – to be held in Belfast – is at stake – while she has recently signed for Shelbourne and is looking forward to playing in the Champions League.

In 2015, she moved from Greencastle to Peamount United in Dublin, winning the Women’s National League’s Young Player of the Year Award in her first season and making the Team of the Year in 2016.

Tyler Toland was named as the International Under-16 Women’s Player of the Year. The St Johnston woman only returned from Serbia with the Irish Under-17s today – after they secured qualification for the European Championships – and 2016 was certainly a memorable year.

The gifted midfielder played for the Irish Under-15s, Under-16s and Under-17s in the calendar year.

Toland, a student at Deele College in Raphoe, plays for Maiden City and also lined out for Sion Swifts last year.

This week, Toland played every minute of Ireland’s Elite Qualifiers and the wins over Hungary and Serbia and a draw with Scotland as Dave Bell’s team booked their place at the finals.

Toland is a daughter of former Finn Harps player Maurice Toland.