PLAYER INTERVIEW: Dean Byrne

A PFAI First Division Player of the Year nominee, and a member of the said Team of the Year, the return of Dean Byrne to Longford Town for 2020 was welcomed greatly by all at Bishopsgate.

And with the Dubliner now ready to go for another year by the Strokestown Road venue – the 24-year-old has made no secret of why remained in Red and Black for the latest campaign.

“I re-signed, because I genuinely believe we can win the league this year. I wouldn’t have signed back if I didn’t think that,” he said.

“I had a lot of offers, from Premier Division clubs, First Division clubs and abroad as well but I wanted to prove my worth to Longford. They stood by me when I was injured so I wanted to pay that back really to win a league title. To win the league is the main focus really. We’re not even thinking about promotion through the playoffs. We want to gain promotion as league winners, and we want to achieve that.”

And with pre-season underway, he added; “It’s great to be back. Daire has a plan with a lot of the young lads after coming in. I think we are really well equipped for a title challenge.

“The new lads have done really well; they look really sharp and they’re hungry as well. They’re hungry to show what they can do at the age they’re at in senior football. I’m buzzing to link up with them and play with them and hopefully we’ll have big things to come this year. Pre-season has been the same really under Daire. He was so hands on before. He got in on the sessions, and he still is very involved. John Martin has come in and he’s very involved in the sessions as well but it’s mostly the same.”

And to conclude, he added; “We have the same message as always, just get behind us as a group.

“The more experienced lads will help the younger lads along and hopefully the fans will play their part as well, and hopefully we can bring a title to them.”