Ireland international Jack Byrne warmed up for the pivotal Denmark clash by scooping the PFAI ‘Player of the Year’ award last night.
The Shamrock Rovers star and FAI Cup winner has enjoyed a year to remember and that has been acknowledged by his fellow players who voted him top of the pile.
Former Manchester City youth Byrne hit the ground running in his first season in the League of Ireland after returning from spells with Kilmarnock, Oldham and Wigan.
The playmaking midfielder scored eight league goals - some of them screamers - and was the assist king, not least in Europe.
His eye-catching performances elevated him to the Ireland squad and he made his senior debut off the bench in the friendly win over Bulgaria in September.
Elsewhere at last night’s awards bash, Bohemians ace Danny Mandroiu was crowned PFAI ‘Young Player of the Year’.
The former Brighton man edged out Byrne and Derry City striker David Parkhouse, who had a season to remember while on loan from Sheffield United.
Mandroiu has firmly established himself as a key part of Stephen Kenny’s Ireland Under-21 squad and is flying to Armenia today for Thursday’s qualifier in Yerevan.
Kenny’s squad then face Sweden in another crunch tie at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday week, where Mandroiu will hope to weigh in with yet another outrageous goal.
Striker Rob Manley scooped the PFAI First Division Player of the Year gong after firing Cabinteely to an unlikely playoff spot.
Managers were also honoured with Dundalk’s Vinny Perth winning the Premier Division award after steering the Lilywhites to the title in his first year in charge.
He edged out FAI Cup winning boss Stephen Bradley of Shamrock Rovers and Bohs’ Keith Long who secured Europe on a shoestring.
And Drogheda United’s Tim Clancy scooped the First Division prize ahead of title winning Shelbourne boss Ian Morris and Cabinteely’s veteran gaffer Pat Devlin.
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