Paul Byrne (born 19 May 1986) is an Irish footballer who last played as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shelbourne.
Career
UCD Byrne began his League of Ireland career with UCD on a sports scholarship in 2004 following his spell in schoolboy football with Cherry Orchard. After making an impressive impact with UCD's Under 21 side, Byrne was promoted to UCD's first team towards the end of their 2004 First Division campaign where he scored 3 goals in 4 appearances helping UCD to promotion. A series of injuries restricted Byrne to limited appearances for UCD over the 2005 and 2006 seasons but an injury-free run in 2007 saw Byrne score 7 goals in all competitions for the Students. In his spell with UCD, Byrne was one of a select few who won the Under-21 league championship on three occasions in 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Sporting Fingal/Bray Wanderers Byrne departed UCD mid-way through the 2008 season to join First Division side Sporting Fingal. Byrne made 16 appearances in all competitions scoring 2 goals helping Fingal to 3rd place finish in their inaugural season of League of Ireland football. As Sporting Fingal moved in a direction to full-time football, Byrne parted company with the club and he returned to the Premier Division in 2009 with Bray Wanderers. Despite a frustrating season in front of goal with just 3 goals, Byrne remained an ever present figure in the Seagulls starting XI making 28 appearances in all competitions. Bray were relegated from the Premier Division following a promotion/relegation play-off defeat to his most recent club Sporting Fingal.
St. Patrick's Athletic/Monagahan United Byrne followed his former UCD manager Pete Mahon to St. Patrick's Athletic for 2010 Premier Division season. A number of impressive displays saw Byrne help St. Pats' to a title challenge and a Setanta Sports Cup final before injury limited his appearances in the 2nd half of the season. Byrne departed St. Patrick's Athletic at the end of the 2010 season to relocate to Australia. In Australia he linked up with former League of Ireland Player Brian Shelley at Victoria club Ballarat Red Devils. Byrne decided to return to Ireland mid-season and joined up with First Division title challengers Monaghan United. He was restricted to substitute appearances as Monaghan secured promotion back to the Premier Division.
Shelbourne Byrne joined newly promoted Premier Division club Shelbourne on 9 February 2012 for the 2012 campaign.
Career statistics
Correct as of 10 October 2012.
ClubSeasonLeagueLeagueFAI CupLeague CupOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsUCD2004First Division430000--432005Premier Division510000--512006Premier Division1423011--1832007Premier Division1972000--2172008Premier Division1530000--153Total57165011--6317Sporting Fingal2008First Division1422000--162Total1422000--162Bray Wanderers2009Premier Division242210020283Total242210020283St. Patrick's Athletic2010Premier Division254101062336Total254101062336Ballarat Red Devils2011Victoria 2NW410000--41Total410000--41Monaghan United2011First Division4010001060Total4010001060Shelbourne2012Premier Division111301011162Total111301011162Career total139261413110316631
References
External links