Luke Byrne and Karl Moore commit themselves to Shelbourne for Premier Division return

Shelbourne have confirmed that veterans Luke Byrne and Karl Moore have re-signed ahead of the club’s return to the Premier Division.

The pair were ever-present in Ian Morris’ side as the Reds topped the First Division to ensure their return to the top level for the first time in seven years.

Players' player of the year Byrne, who signed from Shamrock Rovers in the off-season, formed the league’s meanest centre-half pairing with captain Derek Prendergast while Moore scored three times from the wing.

And the Tolka Park club have moved quickly to tie the duo down for 2020 having already tied down midfielder Shane Farrell and goalkeeper Colin McCabe to new deals.

26-year-old Byrne came through the ranks at St Kevin’s Boys before signing for Bohemians in 2011 and quickly making his first-team breakthrough.

The left-sided defender earned a move to Shamrock Rovers in 2014 but his time in Tallaght was hampered by a serious knee injury suffered at Turner’s Cross in 2016.

30-year-old Moore also played schoolboy football with Kevin’s before signing for Manchester City as a teenager.

Following a short loan spell with Millwall, the Dubliner returned to Ireland and had spells with UCD, Galway United, Bohemians and Bray before returning to the Gypsies in 2018.

He made the move to Shelbourne midway through the 2018 season and was an integral part of the side that topped the league last season.

Striker Ciaran Kilduff signed a two-year deal ahead of last season while Jaze Kabia and Denzil Fernandes, who signed from Cobh Ramblers in the summer, are also contracted for 2020.