Kirsty McGuinness has been named Danske Bank Women’s Premiership Player of the Year at the NI Football Awards.

Last year, McGuinness enjoyed a fine season on the domestic front with Sion Swifts while also helping Northern Ireland qualify for Euro 2022.

Upon collecting the Belleek trophy she said: “It’s great to win an award. 2020 was a strange year with Covid interrupting the season, but it was a good year for me.

“I have fond memories of my time at Sion as it’s a real community club where everyone fights for each other.

“On the international front, to part of the first Northern Ireland team to qualify for a major tournament is amazing. When you consider that most of the girls must balance football with a full-time job, it’s an incredible achievement.

“A big part of our success is down to the improved standard of the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership. It gets better every year.”

McGuinness now plays for Cliftonville Ladies, who have made a fantastic start to the 2021 season.

“I’m really enjoying life at Solitude. We’ve made a great start to season but we’re taking nothing for granted. We will just take it one game at a time and see where that takes us.”

The NI Football Awards are organised by the Northern Ireland Football League and the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association.