Jack Byrne poised for move to Cypriot First Division
By Daire Walsh
JACK Byrne looks set to bring a successful two-year stint at Shamrock Rovers to an end by signing personal terms with Cypriot First Division outfit APOEL Nicosia in the coming days.
Should the deal go through as planned, the Dubliner will be reunited with former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. Byrne was handed his senior international debut by McCarthy as a substitute in a friendly victory over Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium in September 2019 and was subsequently given a starting berth against New Zealand in the same venue two months later.
He has since added a brace of caps under Stephen Kenny in the UEFA Nations League and will hope that his impending move to Cyprus can keep him in the frame for future Ireland squads.
Provided there are no last-minute complications – he will have to complete a medical after he receives the results of a mandatory Covid-19 test – Byrne is expected to pen a two and a half year contract with APOEL.
Even if it was always likely that he would eventually pursue options elsewhere, his departure will be keenly felt by Rovers and their loyal fan base. In both of his seasons at the Tallaght club, Byrne was named PFAI Player of the Year.
Having helped the Hoops to claim the FAI Cup for the first time in 32 years at the end of his first campaign, he was an integral figure in their unbeaten march to the 2020 Premier Division title.
As well as galvanising Rovers, the return to his native city re-energised Byrne’s career after a difficult couple of years in the UK.
Following an impressive loan spell in the Netherlands with Cambuur, the former Manchester City prodigy had brief stints at Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Oldham Athletic and Kilmarnock before being snapped up by Stephen Bradley in December 2018.