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Brian Kerr's decision to push Kilbane, a hard working but unsensational winger, into the centre of midfield has worked dividends.
Kilbane has had his best year in the green of Ireland and one of his best years at club level as well, as Everton are still in a Champions League position.
The other two short-listed players, Robbie Keane and Shay Given, would get into almost any international squad in world football, so it's high praise indeed for the man they called 'Zinedine Kilbane'.
Ironically it was against France that argubably his greatest day came. He won most people's man-of-the-match in the 0-0 draw in the Stade de France, a game Ireland deserved to win. A far cry from the days when he was booed by his own 'fans' at Sunderland.
Other awards were handed out at the FAI awards ceremony on Sunday. Andy Reid, who broke through the youth set-up and has now established himself in the first team squad, won the young player of the year.
Sheffield Wednesday's Glenn Whelan took the U-21 prize while Willo Flood won the U-19 award, his third award in consecutive years.
Shelbourne's Owen Heary won eircom League player of the year. His performance against Alberto Luque and Deportivo being one of the memorable moments of the season, from an Irish point of view.