Former Aussie Rules ace can t wait to play for Louth under new boss Mickey Harte
February 17, 2021
by Paddy Hickey
Former Aussie Rules player Ciaran Byrne says he can’t wait to resurrect his inter-county career under new Louth football boss Mickey Harte
Dogged by a series of injuries during his five-year career with Melbourne outfit Carlton, and also since returning home in October 2018, Byrne’s difficulties in that regard have now thankfully cleared up.
“There has been a tremendous buzz in Louth since Mickey and (his former Tyrone assistant) Gavin (Devlin) agreed to come into the management set-up, and I’m really looking forward to getting involved with them,” enthused Byrne, who embarked on his Aussie Rules career when he was only 17 after appearing in the same trial as Dublin aces Jack McCaffrey and Ciaran Kilkenny.
STEPHEN CLUXTON (Dublin)
What is it with Dublin and goalkeeping excellence? Cluxton (2002 to the present), John O’Leary (1980-’97) and Paddy Cullen (1967-’79) have won 15 All-Star awards between them in a 6-5-4 share-out. Incredibly, the trio have been Dublin’s first choice at No 1 for 50 of the past 54 years (Davy Byrne had the honour for four seasons in 1998-2001). Cullen and O’Leary set exceptionally high standards, but even they have been surpassed by Cluxton who, at the age of 39, shows no signs of decline. O’Leary heads the rest of the contenders after a brilliant career in which he played in all 70 of Dublin’s championship games for 18 seasons.
A defensive star for 16 seasons, was Higgins the best Mayo produced in modern era?
The Mayo defensive great retired yesterday. Fintan O Toole By Fintan O Toole Sunday 24 Jan 2021, 6:35 PM Jan 24th 2021, 6:35 PM 9,033 Views 15 Comments
Keith Higgins in action for Mayo against Dublin in 2018.
Image: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Image: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
THE LAST ACT for Keith Higgins in a Mayo jersey saw him play a peripheral role.
He watched on as All-Ireland dejection visited Mayo once more in a decider, an unused substitute for the eerie December occasion that rounded off the 2020 championship. It would prove his final involvement in the Mayo football ranks.
Paul Mannion is not expected to be part of Dublin s latest All-Ireland title defence in 2021.
After another Dublin stalwart, Michael Darragh Macauley announced his retirement earlier on Thursday, Mannion is to sit out the forthcoming season, casting doubt over whether he will play for Dublin again.
The Kilmacud Crokes man is 27 and has been one of the primary forwards in Gaelic football over the last three to four years.
He was late back to training however prior to the resumption of activity last September and didn t regain his starting place on the team as new manager Dessie Farrell persisted with Paddy Small at corner-forward.