IRELAND’S STEPHANIE ROCHE has beaten off competition from some of the world’s best footballers to make the final three of the Puskas Award.

The 25-year-old striker was nominated for Fifa’s goal of the year prize earlier this month thanks to an incredible volley she scored for Peamount United in the Women’s National League last October.

Public online voting closed this afternoon and, backed by a strong Twitter campaign, Roche was named alongside James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie in the final three.

They will travel to Zurich for the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony on 12 January, when the winner will be announced. If Roche wins, she will be both the first Irish player and the first female footballer to do so.

VOTING HAS RE-OPENED AND YOU CAN VOTE FOR STEPHANIE HERE