Denis Byrne was the hero of Edenderry’s famous Provincial Towns Cup win in 1983, scoring the winning drop-goal. As the club celebrates its 60th anniversary, he spoke to Micil Glennon.
How did you get involved with Edenderry RFC?
I actually learned my rugby at school in Ballinasloe, but it was around 1978 that I began with Edenderry. I was in the snooker club and Frank O’Meara asked me if I would play a bit of rugby and I said of course I would. I remember my first game was for the First XV in Longford, playing at out-half.
What are you memories of that famous cup run in 1983?
I remember one of our centres, Nicky Connell from Rathangan, breaking his leg in North Kildare in one of the early rounds. We had a very interesting game with Roscrea and we beat them fairly well in Edenderry. We beat Naas away in the semi-final and I scored a try that day.
As for the final against Athy, I remember Joe Phelan making an important tackle under our posts; Jack Donoghue, our number 8, had a great game. I scored the first score from a penalty.
The kids in school were telling me about the video of the second score, the drop-goal, on Youtube but I haven’t seen it. [It wasn’t planned], it was just one of those things. The game finished 6-3.
I suppose you’d have to say that that was the highlight of my playing career.
You were also involved with Edenderry as a coach.
I got great satisfaction out of coaching underage teams. We had a very good under-19s team at one stage and an awful lot of them came through to the Firsts. Lads like Enda Lewis, Harry Hill, John Cooney, Martin Whelehan. I remember there was an under-19 cup competition in Kilkenny and we won it four years on the trot, and after that they didn’t invite us down any more. We had some great teams made up of lads out of [non-rugby playing] schools but they all took to rugby.
Who was the best player that you played with?
It’s hard to say, but George Emo would have been one of the better ones. He was a hooker and had played with Shannon. Technically, he was very good.
How has the club come on since your days as a player and coach?
The infrastructure is now first class. Joe O’Connell has done tremendous work out there, obviously with the support of a number of people. When I was Chairman, the late Pat Fay put a huge amount of effort in and Frank Mallen supported me as well.