Second half substitute Conan Byrne was delighted with his side’s 2-1 home win over Limerick. “It’s massive,” said Byrne afterwards. “Our performances have been very good over the last couple of weeks. We just haven’t been picking up the results.”
Second half substitute Conan Byrne was delighted with his side’s 2-1 home win over Limerick.
“It’s massive,” said Byrne afterwards. “Our performances have been very good over the last couple of weeks. We just haven’t been picking up the results.”
“We were very good against Bohs at Dalymount. We didn’t pick up anything; first half against Dundalk but it’s over 90 minutes,” said Byrne of two of Pat’s recent run of seven league losses on the trot.
For over an hour of the Limerick encounter, it looked as if the Inchicore men’s shocking run would continue. “The first half tonight wasn’t good enough,” was Byrne’s assessment from the Pat’s bench, where the right sided midfielder spent the opening 45 minutes.
He was pragmatic about being dropped. “We’ve lost seven games in a row. The manager has to make changes. That’s fair enough. I’m professional. I’ve been around the game long enough to know sometimes you’re going to sit on the bench.”
Byrne and Jamie Lennon were introduced at half-time. “Once called you have to go on and put in a professional performance. I’m glad I contributed to the game. It’s great to send the fans home happy.”
Byrne and Lennon were given very clear instructions by team boss Liam Buckley. “In fairness to Liam he needed to change it and he changed it. We needed the ball out wide. We weren’t getting enough width. That was evident from Limerick’s attacking play down both flanks.”
“Thankfully then, we got on the front foot. That goal was a long time coming. We were really trying to break them down. Thankfully we got the penalty. Once the ‘peno’ went in there was only going to be one winner.” And Byrne supplied that winner with a powerful 80th minute downward header that ensured he took home the Man of the Match award.
Morale is still high in the St. Pat’s ranks and Byrne feels they deserved a change in fortune. “The squad has been great even though you would think it mightn’t be with all the defeats we’ve had. We weren’t getting the rub of the green. We got one tonight with the offside in the last couple of minutes and, hopefully now that will be a good step to Derry next week.”
