Locky Byrne

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Locky Byrne
irish = Lochlainn Ó Broin
fullname = Loughlin Byrne
placeofbirth = Waterford
countryofbirth = Ireland
dob =
height =
nickname = Locky
county = Waterford
province = Munster
club = Mount Sion
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Waterford
Kilkenny
icposition = Forward
icyears = 1931-1941
1934-1935
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 1
icallireland = 1
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Loughlin 'Locky' Byrne (1914-1941) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Ferrybank, Mooncoin, Slieverue and Mount Sion. Byrne also lined out with both the Waterford and the Kilkenny senior inter-county teams in the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography

Loughlin Byrne was born in the Glen area of Waterford in 1914. The son of a railyard worker called Dashy Byrne, he was raised in Ferrybank on the Waterford-Kilkenny border.

Playing career

Club

Byrne played his club hurling with a selection of famous clubs in both Waterford and Kilkenny. He first tasted success with Ferrybank in 1928 when he won a minor county title with the club. Byrne later joined the famous Mooncoin club in Kilkenny. Here he enjoyed further success when he captured a senior county title in 1936 He also lined out with Slieverue during this period. Byrne later joined the famous Mount Sion clin in Waterford city and shared in some of that club's famous victories. He won his first senior county title with Mount Sion in 1938. It was the first of three consecutive county titles as Byrne colelcted two more county medals in 1939 and 1940.

Inter-county

Byrne first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the WAterford minor hurling team in the late 1920s. He was only fifteen years-old when he won a Munster minor title in 1929 following a 7-5 to 0-2 thrashin of Tipperary. Waterford later qualified for the All-Ireland final where, surprisingly, Meath provided the opposition. THe men from the Déise dominated completely and went on to win by 5-0 to 1-1 giving Byrne a coveted All-Ireland medal.

Byrne was later drafted onto the Waterford senior hurling panel. He was only seventeen when he played in the 1931 Munster final with Cork providing the opposition. A close, exciting game developed, however, with time running out Waterford were winning by a single point. Cork, however, had the luck on the day as eight minutes of injury time allowed them to score the equalising point and draw the game. The replay was more conclusive as Cork won by 5-4 to 1-2, ending Waterford's championship campaign.

By the mid-1930s Byrne had crossed the border and was playing with the KIlkenny senior inter-county team. He played in the Leinster decider of 1934, however, Dublin were the winners on that occasion. The following year Byrne was still on the team as Kilkenny defeated Laois to take the Leinster title. Byrne later line dout in his first All-Ireland final at senior level. Limerick provided the opposition on that occasion and were the red-hot favourites. They were the reigning National League and All-Ireland champions and had played a remarkable 31 games without defeat. A record crowd of over 46,000 turned up to watch a hurling classic. In spite of rain falling throughout the entire game both sides served up a great game. At the beginning of the second-half Lory Meagher sent over a huge point from midfield giving Kilkenny an inspirational lead which they wouldn’t surrender. As a result of this victory Byrne collected a coveted All-Ireland medal.

By 1938 Byrne was back on the Waterford senior team. That year his side reached the Munster final with Clare providing the opposition. In a close game Waterford emerged as the victors on a score line of 3-5 to 2-5. Not only was it Byrne's first Munster medal but it was also the first time that Waterford had won the provincial title. Waterford later accounted for Galway allowing Byrne's side to advance to their first-ever All-Ireland final. Dublin provided the opposition on that occasion and the game turned out to be a good one. Declan Goode scored a goal for the Decies after just six minutes, however, Dublin fought back with goals of their won. Eventually, victory went to ‘the Dubs’ on a score line of 2-5 to 1-6.

Death

In 1940 Byrne got injured playing a club match against Portlaw and came off with a coat wrapped around himself. He sat in the wet grass on the sideline for the remainder of the game, however, he contracted tuberculosis as a result of this. His health steadily declined over the next few months, however, he continued hurling. Byrne died in January 1941 aged twenty-seven.

Teams