Robbie Keane has tough competition for the Eircom/u23 international Young Player of the Year.

The Inter Milan striker has won the award for the past two years but he will do well to make it three in a row because of the challenge of Richard Dunne and Kevin Kilbane.

Robbie has done nothing wrong in the green shirt but Dunne and Kilbane have emerged as class internationals in the last year.

Richard Dunne was nothing short of outstanding for Ireland against Holland and Portugal away at the start of the current World Cup campaign, so much so that he has been rewarded for his displays with a move to Manchester City, away from his hell at Everton.

Dunne, known as the Honey Monster, last won an international award in 1996 when he was named u16 Player of the Year and it is not inconceivable that he will add a second on November 12 when the presentation takes place in Dublin.

Kevin Kilbane is a strange animal in today's game. He is the most direct player in the Irish squad and his runs are unstoppable even though he usually goes in a straight line.

He is an out-and-out wide player, which always give the Irish options when they are under pressure.

Formwise he is on par with the other two nominated players but his performance against Estonia will be fresh in the minds of the voters, which could swing it his way.