Jason Byrne (born 23 February 1978) is an Irish football player, currently playing as a striker for Bluebell United in the Leinster Senior League. He is the second highest ever goal scorer in the history of the League of Ireland. Club career Bray Wanderers Byrne scored in his first competitive game for Bray Wanderers coming on as a substitute in a League of Ireland Cup game on 16 August 1998. He made his League of Ireland debut on the opening day of the 1998–99 League of Ireland Premier Division season on 30 August. Byrne scored his first league goal against Shamrock Rovers on 4 September 1998. His exploits earned him the Player of the Month award for his first month in senior football. That season, he scored 7 goals from 15 appearances. Over the next 4 seasons, Byrne increased his reputation as a striker that struck fear into the heart of opposition defences, scoring 49 league goals in 128 league appearances. Despite breaking his ankle in November 1998, he recovered to score twice in the 1999 FAI Cup replay win. The 2001–02 season at Bray saw his most successful goals return, netting 14 league goals during the course of the season. Shelbourne On 12 January 2003, he signed for Shelbourne for a reported €75,000, scoring twice on his league debut against Waterford United in April. He made an immediate impact, scoring 21 league goals in his first season, and helping Shelbourne to the summit of the league table. He was named PFAI Player of the Year for his efforts. 2004 saw him pick up where he left off, forging a good partnership with new signing Glen Fitzpatrick, and firing home 25 times in 33 league games, again helping Shelbourne to the league title. 2005 saw him hit 30 goals across all competitions, including 5 in the Champions League qualifiers and 22 in the league, and once again scoop the PFAI Player of the Year Award. During this time he courted the attention of foreign clubs, such as Brighton & Hove Albion and the Swedish champions Djurgårdens IF. It was widely assumed he would join Djurgårdens, however, the clubs could not agree a fee. The Swedes offered in the region of €400,000, a record for a League of Ireland player. This was turned down because, reportedly, as much as 50% would have gone to his previous club, Bray Wanderers. Byrne was