Just days after the sad passing of former Dundalk player of the year, Tony Cavanagh, comes that of another former Lilywhites star: Sean Byrne, who made more than 200 appearances for the club in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, died recently in New Zealand at the age of 48.
The Inchicore native, popularly known as ‘Yorkie’ during his time at Oriel Park, scored 30 goals in 202 appearances for the Lilywhites between 1978 and 1983, and enjoyed a successful spell at Oriel Park under the tutelage of legendary manager Jim McLaughlin.
After signing from his home-town club, St Patrick’s Athletic, Sean made his debut for Dundalk at home to Sligo Rovers on February 5, 1978, and played a key role when Dundalk clinched the League and Cup double the following year.
He was an integral part of that side, forming an excellent central midfield alliance with Leo Flanagan, ahead of a defence that included Martin Lawlor and former Irish international Tommy McConville. Sean scored nine goals in 32 appearances that seaosn, including the opener in the FAI Cup final win over Waterford.
The hardworking midfielder tasted further success when the FAI Cup was regained in 1981, and scored ten times when collecting a second league winners’ medal the following year, grabbing one of the goals that helped defeat Athlone Town and clinch the championship for Dundalk.
He made five appearances for the League of Ireland representative side, including a tour of New Zealand in 1982 that led to him taking up residence there a year later.
Kevin Fallon, a former Sligo Rovers player, was manager of New Zealand side Gisborne City at the time, and it was he who persuaded Sean – then 28 – to relocate to the southern hemisphere to continue his football career.
Sean helped his new side to the final of the Chatham Cup, the equivalent of the FAI Cup competition here, but he sustained an ankle injury in the drawn first game, as a result missing the second, which Gisborne lost to Mount Wellington.
He was not to be denied, however, and – as he had become accustomed to success in Ireland – capped his time in New Zealand with double honours in 1984, helping Gisborne to the national league title and the Air New Zealand Cup, and coming within a whisker of completing a treble in just his second year, only to see his side beaten by Manurewa in the Chatham Cup final.
After his two disappointments in the Chatham Cup, Sean was eager to reach the winners enclosure of the prestigious competition, and he managed it in 1987, when, with the years beginning to tell on the famous engine, he retreated from his habitual midfield role to that of sweeper, and proceeded to help the side all the way to Chatham glory.
Sean suffered from Motor Neurone Disease for several years.
