Glentoran midfielder Demi Vance named Irish Premiership player ofthe season

Glentoran midfielder Demi Vance has been crowned player of the year for 2019 at the inaugural NIFL Women’s Awards in Belfast on Friday evening.

The 60-times-capped Northern Ireland was rewarded for a fine season in which she helped the Glens to the Irish Cup, League Cup and County Antrim Cup treble.

She beat Sion Swifts goalkeeper Nicola McClure, who competed at the World Cup in France with Jamaica, as well as Linfield pair Chloe McCarron and Kirsty McGuinness to lift the award.

Now 28, Vance has been with Glentoran since she was 15 and, bar a four-year stint in Australia with the Northern Redbacks in Perth, she has spent her entire career with the Belfast club.

Vance was also named the club’s player of the season as they finished third in the Premiership behind Linfield and Swifts.

The award was accepted on Vance's behalf by her Glens teammate Nadene Caldwell, while the player herself sent her thanks by videolink.

Crusaders Strikers defender Beth Chalmers was named academy player of the year as she captained the Belfast club to the under-19 league title.

McGuinness’ 32-goal haul during the season earned her the golden boot award, while Leah McEvoy of Cliftonville Corinthians and Ebony Lecky of Sion Swifts shared the academy award.