Dean Byrne: "If you don't get into the playoffs, the break is about four months - that's a crazy amount of time to be out of football for"

Longford Town’s Dean Byrne admits that there should be more co-operation between junior and League of Ireland clubs during the off-season.

Byrne, speaking on this week’s Extratime Sportscast, noted the importance of both junior clubs and League of Ireland clubs co-operating during the off-season having gone through the junior ranks himself.

“I’ve said in interviews before that it’s silly not to allow it (co-operation) between junior and League of Ireland clubs to happen,” Longford Town’s top scorer said.

“If you don’t get into the playoffs, the break is about four months, that’s a crazy amount of time to be out of football for.

“Obviously, it’s up to lads if they want to do their own bit and stuff like that but it gives you head start as I found out last year.

“It gave me a head start heading into pre-season and if others do it will only benefit the league and players.

“I’d stand by that all the time that the Leinster Senior League and League of Ireland can work together to do something like that, maybe having one or two month loan deals would be perfect.”

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to being considered as one of the First Division’s key players – however, the Dubliner admits getting used to summer football was a challenge initially.

“I was used to finishing up in May and then I would have a few months off before I went on my holidays and got back to playing.

“You have to sacrifice that if you want to make it, it’s no problem really. If you want to make it as a footballer, you have to make sacrifices.



“When I started off last year, I struggled with the schedule a little as I work as well but the body does get used to it after a while. I much prefer the schedule of the League of Ireland now after getting used to it.”

You can listen to the interview in full below

    About Andrew Dempsey

    View Full Profile