February 28 2008

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace winger SEAN SCANNELL has been named Ireland's Young Player of the Year.

The 17-year-old flew out to Dublin with Eagles boss Neil Warnock and collected the award from Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

Previous winners of the gong include Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, Anthony Stokes and Damian Duff.

A statement on the Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Awards website read: "SEAN SCANNELL follows in the sizeable footsteps of Roy Keane and Damien Duff by winning our soccer award.

"SCANNELL, whose father Brendan is from Castleblaney, made his Championship debut with Crystal Palace last December against Queens Park Rangers.

"Four days later he scored his first senior goal with a glorious chip over Sheffield Wednesday's stricken goalkeeper Lee Grant.

"He’s not lacking on the international honours having featured with the Republic of Ireland’s U17 and U19 squads. Now he’s looking to the future as Crystal Palace aim for the Premier League and Giovanni Trapattoni begins his senior managerial reign."