Denis Byrne

Denis Martin Byrne (born 24 October 1974) is an Irish sportsperson who is a hurling All Star. He played with his local club Graigue–Ballycallan, in County Kilkenny, from 1991 to 2009, and with Kilkenny senior inter-county hurling team from 1994 until 2002, including a period as captain. He is currently involved in skills training with the Dublin Senior Hurling team.

He won a Minor All-Ireland medal with Kilkenny in 1991, an All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship in 1994 and a National Hurling League medal in 1995. He was on the Kilkenny All-Ireland Senior winning side in 2000 and was awarded an All-Star during the same year.

Career

In 1988, Byrne played with Callan CBS to win Roinn B All-Ireland Colleges Juvenile Hurling Champion, and went on to win the Roinn B All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling Championship of 1991 where they beat Coláiste Spiorad Naomh (Cork) 1-14 to 1-0. Byrne won an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal with Kilkenny in 1991 when they beat Tipperary 0-15 : 1-10 at Croke Park.

Byrne played in the All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship final in 1995. He won a National Hurling League medal for Kilkenny in 1995 when Kilkenny beat Clare 2–12:0–9. He played in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship final of 1995, where Kilkenny were beaten by Offaly 2-16:2-5. He missed the 1996 championship due to injury. He played with Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1997 where Kilkenny were beaten by Clare 1-17 to 1-14 in the All Ireland semi- final.

Byrne was captain of Kilkenny for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final of 1999 and was awarded an All-Star during the same year. He played with Graigue-Ballycallan in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship final of 2000 where they beat O'Loughlin Gaels 0-16 : 0-09.

After falling out of Brian Cody's plans for Kilkenny in 2002, Byrne instead played for the Tipperary senior hurling team when he transferred to Mullinahone in South Tipperary in 2003. He had reached an agreement with the Tipperary management and county board that he wouldn't line out against Kilkenny in a competitive fixture for Tipperary. He won two south Tipperary Senior hurling medals in 2003 and 2004

Honours All Stars 2000 (1) AIB Leinster Club Player of the Year (1) 2000 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1) 2000; runner-up 1998, 1999 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (4) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001; runner-up 1995, 1997 National Hurling League (2) 1995, 2002 Leinster Club winner 2000 All Ireland club runners up 2001 Kilkenny Senior Hurling winners (2)1998 and 2000 runner-up 1999, 2001] Oireachtas winner 1999 Ryan Cup winner Carlow IT 1993 All Ireland Senior colleges winner 1991 All Ireland Junior Colleges winner 1988 Under 14 Poc Fada All Ireland winner 1988 All Ireland under 21 winner 1994 runner up 1995 Leinster under 21 winner 1994 and 1995 All Ireland Minor winner 1991. Leinster minor winner 1991 and 1992 All Ireland Senior Inter Firms 1994 Munster Senior inter firms winner 1994. South Tipperary Senior Hurling (2) 2003 and 2004