International Career
Byrne's form won him a call up to the Ireland team for a friendly against Poland in April 2004. The manager at the time, Brian Kerr, opted only to bring him on for the final few seconds. This move was not appreciated by Shelbourne supporters, who already had a strong dislike for Kerr due to his association with their rivals St Patrick's Athletic.
Despite a relatively poor start to the 2006 season, Byrne was called up to the Ireland squad to face Chile on 24 May 2006 by Brian Kerr's successor, Steve Staunton. The game was a disappointing one for Ireland as they were defeated 1–0 at home. Byrne, unlike his previous international encounter, earned a reasonable amount of time on the park as he played the final 20 minutes of the game, setting up several gilt-edged opportunities that were spurned by two players considered to be among Ireland's best; Damien Duff and Byrne's cousin Robbie Keane.
Byrne was again called up to the Ireland squad by Steve Staunton in 2006, for a friendly against Holland, but was unable to take his place in the squad due to injury.
Read more about this topic: Jason Byrne (footballer)
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)