Byrne pleased with EA performance
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He may have scored the goal that brought Monaghan United back into their EA Sports Cup tie with Dundalk on Monday but for defender Philip Byrne getting a full game under his belt was what satisfied him the most.
After being dogged with injury last year while with Longford Town, Byrne had hoped this year would be different but he has had to bide his time to get a first start for Mons. “It has been frustrating. I had a bad year last year at Longford, had a few injuries. I was looking just to get back to playing football this year. I got my chance so hopefully I have done alright. It’s up to the manager from here on in,” he told ExtraTime.ie.
Byrne had considered retiring at the end of the season but Mons manager Mick Cooke got in touch. Just before the start of the season Cooke left the club to go to Drogheda United and Roddy Collins took up the reins at Gortakeegan. Byrne hopes his performance impressed his boss. “Roddy came in the week before the season started. I don’t think he knew much about the lads, he was trusting his backroom staff to give him a bit of advice. Whether that did me good or bad I don’t know. I played most of the friendlies and then find myself on the bench for the first game of the season. That’s the manager’s decision and it’s up to impressing him now.”
Against Dundalk, Monaghan dominated the game but had to come from behind to claim victory. The defender was delighted with the performance of the team. “We did very well. Our lads were very good. We had a couple of fringe players playing; me included. A bad free-kick decision led to their goal. I thought we played very well and were a threat going forward. I thought we dominated the game and deserved the win,” said Byrne.
Last year Mons reached the final of the EA Sports Cup and now have a quarter-final tie to look forward to. There has been talk about how certain clubs treat this competition but for Byrne it’s a welcome distraction from the league. ”For the likes of me it’s great because I got a game,” he joked. "The lads enjoy football. That’s what we are here for. The league is the priority. The cup is one for the players; see how far we can get. We’ll take anyone in the next round.”
Byrne now hopes that after 120 minutes of football (game went to extra-time) he did enough to warrant a starting place. “All I had to do was concentrate on my football. I’ve played long enough in the league to know that anything can happen in football. I’ll just wait for my chance and when it comes go for it. I feel good and I feel fit. “
After being dogged with injury last year while with Longford Town, Byrne had hoped this year would be different but he has had to bide his time to get a first start for Mons. “It has been frustrating. I had a bad year last year at Longford, had a few injuries. I was looking just to get back to playing football this year. I got my chance so hopefully I have done alright. It’s up to the manager from here on in,” he told ExtraTime.ie.
Byrne had considered retiring at the end of the season but Mons manager Mick Cooke got in touch. Just before the start of the season Cooke left the club to go to Drogheda United and Roddy Collins took up the reins at Gortakeegan. Byrne hopes his performance impressed his boss. “Roddy came in the week before the season started. I don’t think he knew much about the lads, he was trusting his backroom staff to give him a bit of advice. Whether that did me good or bad I don’t know. I played most of the friendlies and then find myself on the bench for the first game of the season. That’s the manager’s decision and it’s up to impressing him now.”
Against Dundalk, Monaghan dominated the game but had to come from behind to claim victory. The defender was delighted with the performance of the team. “We did very well. Our lads were very good. We had a couple of fringe players playing; me included. A bad free-kick decision led to their goal. I thought we played very well and were a threat going forward. I thought we dominated the game and deserved the win,” said Byrne.
Last year Mons reached the final of the EA Sports Cup and now have a quarter-final tie to look forward to. There has been talk about how certain clubs treat this competition but for Byrne it’s a welcome distraction from the league. ”For the likes of me it’s great because I got a game,” he joked. "The lads enjoy football. That’s what we are here for. The league is the priority. The cup is one for the players; see how far we can get. We’ll take anyone in the next round.”
Byrne now hopes that after 120 minutes of football (game went to extra-time) he did enough to warrant a starting place. “All I had to do was concentrate on my football. I’ve played long enough in the league to know that anything can happen in football. I’ll just wait for my chance and when it comes go for it. I feel good and I feel fit. “
