CIARÁN: SPECIAL CROKER WIN WAS A REWARD FOR NOT GIVING UP

CIARAN Byrne has revealed he was in tears after powering Louth to a landmark Croke Park win over Dublin.

- By PAUL KEANE

The 31-year-old former AFL star played a key role in the county's first Championship win over the Dubs since 1973, scoring three points as a substitute on Sunday.

Byrne capped the performance with a remarkable AFL style climb and catch in the dying moments which helped to set up Paul Matthews’ insurance point.

But if the St Mochtas clubman had listened to medics in 2019, he wouldn't be playing at all.

He was told after a bad ankle break back then that he'd ‘never play football again’.

Either side of that, in 2016 and 2023, Byrne suffered devastating ACL ruptures and his first season in the AFL, in 2015, was wiped out by a hamstring injury.

It's only now that he can say ‘the body actually feels quite good’ and that he's ready to go again.