Liverpool and United are linked with Glenavon’s rising star Byrne
HE only made his senior debut last month but already an Irish League teenager is being linked with the biggest clubs in English football.
Goalkeeper Conner Byrne took to the pitch for Glenavon in their 2-1 Mid-Ulster Cup semi-final victory over Portadown last month aged just 14.
Now he’s already being eyed up at Old Trafford and Anfield while Byrne this week spent time at the Leeds United Academy.
Also linked with the Lismore Comprehensive student are Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
As many as a dozen English clubs could be interested.
United are thought to be leading the chase and seem confident they can complete a deal, having already scouted the player for quite some time.
After Byrne made his first team bow, club chairman Adrian Teer said: “There has already been a lot of interest in Conner from a number of cross-channel clubs. He is a great prospect.”
Byrne played for Northern Ireland Under-16s last month but it’s been a swift rise to stardom. He made his debut for the Glenavon Under-20s in October and just weeks later was drafted into the first team.
He was exactly 14 years and 245 days when he took to the pitch at Shamrock Park. It’s unclear whether or not that is an Irish League record although the previous youngest player in known records was Jason Greenaway, who was 15 years and 174 days when he was handed his debut, also by manager Gary Hamilton at Glenavon.
Just three fixtures survived the elements as the NI Football League programme was frozen still at the weekend.
Carrick’s clash with champions Linfield at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena fell by the wayside, as did Glentoran’s meeting with Ballinamallard United, while the 3G surfaces at Solitude and the Bangor Fuels Arena were no match for blankets of overnight snow, meaning that Cliftonville and Ards’ respective showdowns with Glenavon and Ballymena United will have to wait for another day. COLERAINE manager Oran Kearney was relieved to see his side defeat Dungannon Swifts as Darren McCauley’s strike was enough to separate the two teams at The Showgrounds.
The league leaders had chances to seal a comfortable victory but were wasteful in front of goal and were nearly punished as substitute Ryan Mayse was twice denied by Chris Johns.
“I knew it would be a real tough game,” Kearney (below) said. “Dungannon’s defensive record is up there with the teams in the top half. Yes, they maybe don’t score as many as they would like, but we have to score to win.
“We were a bit lax when the game opened up when we should have killed it, so that’s the only bit of frustration. I said to the boys it’s been a long time since we had a 1-0 win, but they are good wins to have.
“Going into the closing stages bar the two CAPTAIN Colin Coates felt halftime came just when Crusaders needed it as they came from behind to beat Warrenpoint Town.
Despite dominating the early exchanges and going in front through Paul Heatley, the Crues found themselves 2-1 down at the break following opportunistic strikes from Martin and Darren Murray. However, Stephen Baxter’s men hit back to level courtesy of Jordan Forsythe before Jordan Owens powered home a header for the winner.
With leaders Coleraine winning, it was important for Crusaders
Vital contribution: Darren McCauley is mobbed after hitting the only goal of the game
scares we had we were comfortable, and we saw the game out with everything we have learned over the last couple of years.”
It was to be a good weekend for the Bannsiders as they sealed the signing of winger Stephen Dooley, as well as welcoming Lyndon Kane and Eoin Bradley back to training after
long-term injuries.
“Speaking to Stephen, I know what it means to him to play for the club he supported as a boy, and that far outweighs everything else because when you get that hunger and desire to want to produce for something which means something to you, it’s massive,” Kearney added.
“Stephen can play anywhere in the front six and his football education has allowed him to play in a variety of positions.
“Lyndon and Eoin landed back out on the training pitch last Tuesday and they got a round of
applause from everyone.
“Lyndon was jogging around with a big grin on his face. The only bigger grin was mine as I was delighted to see him back.
“Lyndon needs to get back into full training, and with the length of time he’s been out he’ll need a reserve game or two and allow him to find his feet again.
“Eoin has started rehab, but we have to be careful, he’s probably looking at the end of December or start of January.
“He has a different view than we have but we’ll strike a happy medium and meet him halfway.”
Swifts boss Rodney McAree was left frustrated for the second weekend in a row as they suffered yet another narrow defeat.
“I’ve been frustrated the last two weeks as we have created a lot of opportunities against Linfield and Coleraine,” McAree said. “Coleraine had a lot of shots on goal, but Stuart Addis hasn’t been overly tested or worked.
“We had a couple of good opportunities in the second half which probably landed at an area which was comfortable for Chris Johns.
“We are frustrated because we have put in two decent performances, it was hard to play on a heavy pitch, but while we can take positives, we have come away with no points.
“If we keep putting those types of performances in, then we will be alright. I feel for them because they deserve something for their efforts, but all we will ultimately get is a pat on the back.”