Hibernian striker, Kurtis Byrne, became the proud owner of a SFL IRN-BRU Match Ball when he scored his first ever senior hat-trick as the East Fife club he has been loaned to, knocked six past Dumbarton without reply in their final August Second Division fixture.
The 20-year-old fully intends to make the most of his time at New Bayview and to get into a run of form that will see him force his way into the Easter Road starting eleven when he returns in January.
Byrne joined Hibs in September 2007 from Norwich City after a 14 month spell at the Canaries where he worked with former Easter Road boss Jim Duffy and played four times for their reserve side.
The striker said, “I am a born and bred Dublin boy and played for a team over there called Cherry Orchard before moving to England.
“Jim Duffy left Carrow Road about six months before I did however, the move to Scotland came through my agent. I played in a trial game and scored although I would like to think Jim would have said positive things if he had been asked.”
Byrne’s first season saw the Hibees finish third in the SPL Under-19 Youth League however, season 2008/09 was a golden one for Byrne and his Hibs team-mates as they were the top youth team in Scotland.
He explained, “We won everything that season, the SPL Under-19 Youth League, the SFA Youth Cup and even the East of Scotland Shield.
“I scored the goal that clinched the League title at Motherwell and both of the goals at Hampden when we defeated Rangers 2-1 to win the Youth Cup.
“The winners were both last gasp strikes and it was an unbelievable feeling to see my header hit off the bar and go into the net with the very last touch in extra-time at Hampden.
“Seven players of our squad were given full-time contracts during that successful season and I made my Hibs first team debut not long afterwards.”
Byrne added, “I came on as a substitute for Hibs against Brechin City last August in The Co-operative Insurance Cup and we won 3-0.
“Four days later, I came on midway through the second half against Celtic at Easter Road and that was a great experience. The game was live on television so everyone back home saw me and that was fantastic.”
One of the people watching was Byrne’s dad, Paul (left), a former player with the Parkhead club with Byrne Junior saying, “I have been told about my dad’s career in Scotland and that he once scored a couple of goals against Rangers. I know he was a good player but his career did not reach the heights it could have.”
“I made two other appearances last season for Hibs. I played almost the full game against Aberdeen when I came on early for Merouane Zemmama and then I had five minutes against Motherwell when I came on for him again. Both of those games ended 2-0 to Hibs so I enjoyed them.”
Byrne was keen for more first team action and he was given the chance to start games by accepting a loan move to Stirling Albion in February of this year, as they chased the Second Division Championship.
The wretched winter weather ensured that Byrne never got into full stride with the Forthbank club and he only managed full appearances at Dumbarton and against Stenhousemuir at Forthbank as well as coming on as a substitute at Peterhead although Allan Moore’s men were unbeaten in those three games.
The Dumbarton game almost saw Byrne enter the record books as one of the quickest ever debutant goalscorers as Stirling went one nil up in their first attack. The stadium announcer at Strathclyde Homes Stadium advised the crowd that Byrne had scored and as reporters began to talk about a goal with his first touch, it was quickly pointed out that it was in fact Scott Robertson who had applied the finishing touch.
Five of Byrne’s Hibs’ team-mates that were given new deals at the Edinburgh club at the same time - Ewan Moyes, Sean Welsh, Patrick Deane, Lee Currie, and Thomas Flynn - have also seen SFL action on a loan basis.
Moyes has been with for Livingston, Arbroath and Brechin City on loan, Welsh along with Currie sampled life in the SFL with Stenhousemuir where unfortunately, Welsh picked up an injury early into his spell as a Warrior.
Deane moved on to play for Montrose as a trialist last season before joining Darlington and goalkeeper Thomas Flynn is now entering his second spell on loan at Alloa Athletic and recently featured against Aberdeen on Co-operative Insurance Cup duty after regular number one Stephen Robertson was red carded.
David Wotherspoon (right in action recently for Under 21's against Belarus), who also signed on at the same time, has progressed to Scotland Under-21 duty whereas two team-mates joined SFL clubs in the summer of 2009. Ally Park is plying his trade at Clyde, where he has been a virtual first choice pick, and Oliver Russell was in the midfield of Berwick Rangers.
Callum Booth was another member of that squad that has tasted SFL action and he has joined Moyes at both Arbroath and Brechin, picking up an IRN-BRU SFL Young Player of the Month honour in the process. Scott Taggart is the eighth member of that Youth Cup Final squad still attached to the capital club and is currently gaining experience elsewhere with Ayr United.
Byrne came back from Forthbank and found himself a regular on the first team bench and he was therefore pleased to get the chance of some more experience in Fife on loan until January.
Having a former Hibs favourite in charge of the club also helped as Byrne explained, “It was a chance to go out and play from the start of the season. Everyone spoke very highly of the Manager, Stevie Crawford, who of course, used to be at Hibs.
“He likes to play exciting, attacking football on the ground and the people there have been brilliant with me since I arrived.
“Having been able to spend a bit longer in the Second Division, I have to say that the quality of player in this division is really good.
“I am playing up front with Bobby Linn(right) and Steven Hislop and they are really good players. Bobby in particular, has been flying since the season started.”
Byrne got off the mark with a quick fire strike against his former Stirling Albion side in The ALBA Challenge Cup Second Round tie in early August and he took his tally for the season up to four when he finally scored against The Sons at the end of last month.
The youngster, who has been capped at every level for the Republic of Ireland up until Under-19 age level, talked through his three strikes saying, “The first two came about after exchanging one-twos with Bobby with the third goal being a left foot curling shot from the edge of the box.”
The frontman was nearly denied his moment of glory through injury as he explained, “My hamstring was beginning to tighten and East Fife wanted to take me off. I told them to let me stay on as I fancied getting another goal and it was a really good feeling when the third one went in. I got taken off two minutes later though!”
Sharp eyed viewers of IRN-BRU SFL.TV will have last week seen Byrne taking the match ball off the pitch with him as he explained, “It was my first senior hat-trick so I was pleased to get the match ball.
“All the players have signed it and I have put the match ball with a couple I received during my Under-19 days including the one when I got a hat-trick against Hearts.”
Byrne is on his way to reaching the target he set himself and the one he hopes will impress his Easter Road boss John Hughes.
He said, “That is me at four goals now and I am aiming for 15 during my loan spell. If I get that many, I am sure the Managers at both clubs will be pleased and hopefully, I can establish myself in the Hibs first team when I go back.
“This is a big season for me as my contract is up next summer so this loan spell is really important. I want to play regularly in the SPL before the season is out and progress with the Republic to Under-21 level.”
Forfar Athletic’s Station Park is the next step for Byrne on his football education and he reckons that Crawford and his crew will travel to Angus in good spirits despite last Saturday’s defeat at the Third Round stage of The ALBA Challenge Cup to Queen of the South.
Byrne said, “I do not know too much about Forfar but I have heard they are a big side but we will go there with a really positive attitude. We were doing well at Queen of the South in the first half however, a couple of goals just after half-time killed us and we went for broke a wee bit after that.”
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