Why on earth would you allow Jack Byrne that much time on the ball?
That was the first thought that came into my head last week when Shamrock Rovers went to Richmond Park and Jack Byrne did what Jack Byrne has done for years - drift into a pocket of space, lift his head, and punish a team for switching off for a split second.
His early goal against St Pat's sent Rovers top of the table and stretched their unbeaten run to eight games. It also served as another reminder that when Jack Byrne is fit, sharp and fully engaged, there are very few players in this country capable of controlling a game the way he can.
Tonight’s Dublin derby is the standout fixture of the evening. Shamrock Rovers host Bohemians in Tallaght with the league leaders on 22 points and Bohs sitting third on 20. The edge to the game is obvious.
Rovers are the form team in the division right now, while Bohs arrive with no wins in their last five outings. But Bohemians should travel with a genuine belief as they remain the only side to take all three points from Rovers in the league so far this season.
One of the biggest reasons Rovers look like themselves again is the form of Jack Byrne.
I’ll be honest, I had my doubts.
When he headed off to Dubai after the falling out with Stephen Bradley, and with the injury issues that had already interrupted his momentum, it was fair to wonder whether we had already seen the best of Jack Byrne dictating League of Ireland games.
Football can move on quickly. Players lose half a yard, lose rhythm, lose that swagger that makes them special. They also get forgotten about very quickly and Jack had every excuse to drift quietly into the latter phase of his career.
Instead, to his credit, he has come back looking leaner, sharper and more determined. He has played in every league game for Rovers this season, saying the spell away was used to rebuild his fitness properly, and his form over the last few weeks suggests that reset has worked.
My favourite thing about Jack as a player has always been his willingness to play forward. We all know about the close control, his ability in tight spaces and the way he can dictate the tempo of a match.
But what separates him for me, is his intent. He doesn’t get on the ball just to enjoy being on it. He gets on it to create. He wants to make that killer pass. He wants to slide runners in. He wants to make something happen.
As a striker, that is a dream. You can play with midfielders who are neat and tidy all day long, lads who keep it moving and look after the ball nicely. There is value in that.
But when you know there is a midfielder on the pitch actively hunting opportunities for you, constantly looking to slip you in, it changes your whole mentality. You stay alive. You make that extra run. You gamble more often. Byrne gives forwards that feeling.
I had the pleasure of sharing the pitch and dressing room with him for a season in England. I had a reasonably good season that year for Oldham, but I feel no shame in saying that my reliance on Jack's ability to find me inside the box was the main contributor to any personal success I had that year.
My absolute favourite thing about Jack is his personality. We’ve all seen him take control of a pitch, but he can take control of a room as well.
Sharp wit and a sharp mind with an ability to take someone down with a one liner that will have you creased over with laughter for hours.
I had him in the house for Christmas Day one year, he rocked in with a few rascal tracksuits from JD Sports for my boys (you can take the boy out of Ballybough, but you can't take the Ballybough out of ......etc, etc), proceeded to take over the conversation for the day while he got fed and watered and left the house in the evening after teaching my two eldest lads their first swear words!
A brilliant fella to have around once you understand him. He has always been one of those lads who can seem moody or who throws his ego around from the outside, especially when he is taken off or when things aren’t done to the standard he expects.
But that edge comes from caring. He wants to play every minute. He wants to be the main man. He wants to win. I’ll take that every day of the week over someone too comfortable with mediocrity.
We had a few shouting matches in the early stages of playing together - him letting me know how he felt if I missed a chance - me letting him know he needs to work harder and take things more seriously.
But from the rows, not one grudge was ever held, and he was a better man than me at throwing the hand up to admit being in the wrong.
This day next week, he turns 30. That feels significant somehow. Not because 30 is old - it isn’t any more in football terms - but because you sense Byrne now understands his game and himself better than ever.
There is a maturity there. Maybe it comes from the setbacks. Maybe it comes from life. Maybe it comes from knowing how quickly things can be taken away.
Whatever the reason, this version of Jack Byrne looks like a footballer who has stopped fighting with himself and has started focusing solely on producing performances.
So if Bohemians are to leave Tallaght with all three points tonight, stopping Jack Byrne has to be the starting point.
Not containing him a little bit. Stopping him. Because if you give him time, if you let him settle, if you allow him to start conducting things with an in-form Graham Burke alongside him, you are asking for trouble.
And as St Pat’s found out last week, that is a dangerous game to play.
Watch Republic Ireland v Poland in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Follow our live blog on Ireland v Italy in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday from 5.40pm. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
