The success of the 2019 season of women’s football was celebrated with the inaugural NI Football League Women’s Awards on Friday evening.

Hosted by Denise Watson at the Mervyn Brown Suite provided recognition for the standout performers in both the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership and the first season of the Electric Ireland Women’s Academy League.

The Player of the Year awards for each of the two leagues operated by the NI Football League were voted for by the respective players of the competing clubs.

Beth Chalmers capped a superb breakthrough year as the Northern Ireland Under-19 defender picked up the Electric Ireland Women’s Academy League Player of the Year after captaining the Crues to the league title.

The closely contested Danske Bank Women’s Premiership Player of the Year won by Glentoran Women’s influential midfielder Demi Vance, the award was collected by team-mate Nadene Caldwell in her absence – with a video message relayed to those in attendance from Demi.

The winners:

Electric Ireland Women’s Academy League Top Goalscorers: Leah McEvoy (Cliftonville Corinthians) & Ebony Lecky (Sion Swifts Ladies U19)

Electric Ireland Women’s Academy League Player of the Year: Beth Chalmers (Crusaders Strikers U19)

Danske Bank Women’s Premiership Top Goalscorer: Kirsty McGuinness (Linfield)

Danske Bank Women’s Premiership Player of the Year: Demi Vance (Glentoran)