Back with a bang

Shaun Byrne was pleased to mark his first start since 19th August with his first goal since January and it was one that sent his side on the road to victory.

- - Listen to audio of this Shaun Byrne interview with www.dafc.co.uk
- - Watch Shaun Byrne interviewed on Pars TV

Shaun told the website:-

"It was great to score and get the win today. It was my first goal of the season and I am just delighted to be back in the team. It has been a frustrating month or so not playing.

"I have just been training hard and kept plodding away to get into the team. Hopefully I took my chance."

Shaun's goal did not arrive until the 80th minute and by that time his team has missed a barrow load of opportunities.

"For the first twenty minutes we played the best that we have played this season. The gaffer said that we could have been two or three up. We left it late but we got the goal and the win and that is the main thing."

The 21 year old might have scored the second goal as well since it was him who was on the end of Moffat's 92nd minute cut back:-

"I think the defender helped me out a bit. It was going past the post so I am glad that he touched it leaving Faissal an easy tap in.

The goals were a relief at the end of a match where Dunfermline had good chances.

"They told us just to get the tempo up again for the second half. I think we dominated the whole second half and it would have been a bit of a disaster if we had not won today."

Shaun's inclusion in the team was at the expense of 18 year old Lewis Spence. Lewis was one of only four ever presents in Jim Jefferies team ahead of the match in Stirling. He suggested that Lewis had been far from being dropped:-

"I wouldn't say dropped, I think maybe just rested. He has done brilliantly well since coming into the team and obviously he is still young. The gaffer has said that he will know the time to take out young players. They cannot play every game and he has rotated other young players in the team as well.

"I have just had to plod away in training, work hard and try to play well in the U20s as well so that I could get back into the team. Hopefully I can keep my place."

Dunfermline have now only Ayr United to play to complete the first round of league fixtures. What teams had Shaun seen this far to cause a threat to the Pars promotion challenge?

"I'd say that there are a good few teams who will be up there at the end of the season. We have done well at home - I don't think that we have conceded a goal. All the away games are tough; it doesn't matter if its teams at the bottom of the league or top of the league, every game is going to be difficult. We have just got to treat every game the same and hopefully go out and win."