Jason Byrne was yesterday named as the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland's player of the year for the second successive year following a season in which his prolific goal scoring for Shelbourne helped the club win the Eircom League title.
The striker scored 26 times for the Tolka Park outfit and made his senior international debut when he came on as a second-half substitute in the friendly match against Poland.
The continued development of his all-round game also helped to ensure his contribution to the Shelbourne cause went well beyond his tally of goals and in the club's European outings he played a key role in helping Pat Fenlon's side to the third qualifying round of the Champions League while spending most of his time out wide on the right side of midfield.
"To be honest I was sure Owen Heary would win this because he had a fantastic season so I'm very surprised," said Byrne yesterday.
"I'm delighted to get it, though, although I take it on behalf of all my team-mates, Pat Fenlon and all the rest of the coaching staff at Shelbourne."
Byrne beat off competition from Jamie Harris and Heary (of Shelbourne), Cork's Kevin Doyle, Declan O'Brien of Drogheda United and Dublin City's Gary O'Neill in a poll of the association's members to lift the award.
In what was a good day for strikers, the association's first division player award went to Kevin McHugh whose 22 goals helped Finn Harps to promotion as champions. Daryl Murphy of Waterford United was named as the young player of the year.
Shelbourne dominated the Premier division team of the year (voted for by club managers), meanwhile, with six of the club's players making the list including Heary who makes his seventh successive appearance.
PREMIER DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR: Steve Williams (Shelbourne), Owen Heary (Shelbourne), Seán Dillon (Longford Town), Dave Rogers (Shelbourne), Steven Gray (Drogheda United), Kevin Hunt (Bohemians), Stuart Byrne (Shelbourne), Bobby Ryan (Bohemians), Ollie Cahill (Shelbourne), Jason Byrne (Shelbourne), Daryl Murphy (Waterford United).
FIRST DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR: Chris O'Connor (Bray Wanderers), Colm Tresson (Bray Wanderers), Jonathan Minnock (Finn Harps), Ray Kenny (Kildare County), Shane Bradley (Finn Harps), Tony McDonnell (UCD), Tom Mohan (Finn Harps), Stephen Fox (Bray Wanderers), Colm Heffernan (Sligo Rovers), Kevin McHugh (Finn Harps), Willie Doyle (UCD).
