Royals mourn loss of football legend Byrne
MEATH GAA is in mourning following the death of Frankie Byrne at the age of 94, WRITES MARTIN BREHENY.
One of the county’s great stalwarts in an inter-county career that ran from 1943 to 1955, he played at right half-forward on the team that won Meath’s first All-Ireland SFC title in 1949, beating Cavan in the final.
He retired from the inter-county scene in 1953 and became a selector but made a return to playing in 1954, winning a second All-Ireland medal as a sub on the team that beat Kerry in the final. He won National League medals in 1946 and 1951 and a Railway Cup medal with Leinster in 1945.
He later became involved in off-field activities as senior selector, including a spell with Sean Boylan, and trainer of the Meath minor team that won the 1957 AllIreland final.
He was very much to the fore when the GAA launched a national coaching drive in the 1970s, working with the likes of Jim McKeever (Derry), Joe Lennon (Down) and Dr Mick Loftus (Mayo).