Saoirse Noonan collects Celtic top-scorer award: '10 goals was my target so I'm happy with 29'

A few hours after Adam Idah netted the equaliser for Celtic against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday, his fellow Cork native was awarded for their own goal-scoring exploits for the Hoops this season.

Saoirse Noonan collected her top goal-scorer trophy for the Celtic Women on Sunday night to cap a memorable first season in the famous green and white, despite the Scottish champions’ failure to add silverware.

The Republic of Ireland international moved to Glasgow from English Women’s Super League Championship side Durham last summer and quickly set about obliterating her initial target for goals for the entire season, which she had set at 10.

“As a footballer you set your own little targets. I think I had 10 in my head, and I think I have 29 now with a few games left,” admitted the former Douglas Hall, Cork City and Shelbourne forward, who also scored in Celtic’s Champions League campaign.

“It’s my first season at the club; it’s a club I have been associated with my whole life so it’s an honour.

“I’m absolutely over the moon. It’s not something that I thought I would achieve with such a big club so early on, so it’s definitely gave me a nudge to go on and do more now.

“This year has been a huge learning curve really. I think we have had a big change in players and stuff and we have had to adapt to what’s suits us best.

“With Champions League we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for that. It was huge what we did getting into the last-16 but I think we suffered a bit in the league.

“We have shown in the last few games that we can play and it’s just about learning to win now.

“We will take all the good and the bad into next season and we will definitely try to go and win some trophies.”

Noonan will be hoping that next season will also see her become a regular in Carla Ward's Irish squad and then to try to force her way into her starting X1.

Meanwhile, there was also a Special Recognition Award for Celtic’s most decorated player of all-time, James Forrest, who has now won 26 major honours in what has been an incredible career in the green and white Hoops.

The Academy Player of the Year is Kyle Ure, with the young midfielder recognised for a very impressive and consistent season with the B Team.

And Celtic’s Young Player of the Year, voted for by supporters, is Arne Engels. 

The 21-year-old Belgian midfielder has enjoyed a great first season in the green and white Hoops, already winning two trophies and scoring 10 goals.

Another player who has enjoyed a great first season at Celtic has been Shannon McGregor, who has been an integral part of Elena Sadiku’s squad. And the midfielder’s goal in the UEFA Champions League against FC Gintra was voted the Women’s Goal of the Season.

And it was Cameron Carter-Vickers’ stunning strike in the recent 5-1 win over Kilmarnock which fans voted as the Men’s Goal of the Season.

The Top Goalscorer of the Season Award for the men’s team, sponsored by adidas, was won by Daizen Maeda.

This award wasn’t the only appearance on stage for Daizen Maeda, who was also voted Players’ Player of the Year by his team-mates.

And French defender, Ceyla Barclais, picked up the same award after her team-mates selected her as their Player of the Year.