IN YEARS to come, he'll undoubtedly become the subject of a pub trivia quiz, the question being which Hibs player scored a hat-trick on each of his first two matches at Easter Road?
But, as delighted as he is to lay claim to such a feat, 18-year-old Kurtis Byrne today admitted he'd gladly swap that mantle for a single first-team goal for the Edinburgh outfit.
A treble as Hibs' under-19 side twice came from behind to beat Capi
tal rivals Hearts to lift the East of Scotland Shield followed a similar haul in his first appearance at Easter Road during the 13-0 hammering of Queen of the South in the SFA Youth Cup.
Now, though, Dublin-born Byrne has his sights firmly fixed on forcing his way into boss Mixu Paatelainen's plans following a successful first season at Easter Road in which he's scored 13 goals for the youth team and a further five for the reserves, including a double in a 5-1 thumping of Rangers in March and another two in a 3-2 win over St Mirren yesterday.
The 6ft-tall striker said: "You couldn't ask for any better, two games at Easter Road and two hat-tricks including one against Hearts to win a trophy. It was a great feeling to have scored a hat-trick against Hearts.
"The boys were class when we went a goal down twice and pulled it back, and then to get the winner in the end was a terrific feeling.
"It's been a great season for me, I've settled in very well and I've been scoring goals.
"If I can keep doing that then hopefully I'll get my chance in the first team next season."
A product of Irish club Cherry Orchard, Byrne signed for Norwich City but sought an early release last summer when "things didn't work out."
He was, however, very much on Hibs' radar with ex-manager John Collins, a team-mate of the youngster's father Paul at Celtic, snapping him up on a two-year deal
He said: "My advisors told me of Hibs' interest. My Dad was there for me if I needed him, but I really left it all up to my advisors.
"I came up here, played against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and was offered a contract. I've been delighted with the way things have gone.
"This is a great club, it's fantastic, a real family club. They took me in when things were a bit difficult and I've now played games and scored goals."
Byrne admitted the seemingly endless conveyor belt of young talent at Easter Road, and strikers in particular, helped make up his mind.
He said: "You look at guys like Kenny Miller, Garry O'Connor, Derek Riordan and now Steven Fletcher, all forwards who were given their chance at a very early age and who have gone on to do so well.
"When I came up here I looked at players like Lewis Stevenson and Kevin McCann, who were first-team regulars as teenagers and since I've been here I've seen one of my Under-19 team-mates Paul Hanlon make the step up.
"Paul had been doing brilliantly in the youth and reserve teams so it was no real surprise to see him move in to the first-team squad.
"I know it won't be easy to make the breakthrough because we've got some great strikers at Easter Road, guys like Fletch, Colin Nish and Benji.
"So while I'm desperate to play I realise I'll have to be patient and be ready to take the chance if it comes my way."
An under-17 internationalist, Byrne revealed he's revelling in working under Paatelainen, the former striker having won more than 70 caps for Finland. He said: "To be honest, nothing has changed as far as I am concerned with John Collins leaving and Mixu becoming manager.
"The current boss was a great striker himself and it's terrific for me as a young centre-forward to be able to go to someone like him for advice. I've trained with the first-team squad and, when I have, he's always worked with the strikers, you can't beat having someone with that sort of experience on hand to help.
"Working with Mixu and Donald Park is terrific, they are brilliant, they offer great advice and are always there to pick you up when you are feeling a bit down.
"Norwich City didn't work out for me but things are certainly working out for me at Hibs. I'm really enjoying myself and loving life in Edinburgh."
Byrne and his under-19 team-mates will have the chance this weekend to test themselves against some of the best youngsters in Britain when they take part in a four-club tournament in London.
And he has little doubt Hibs' reputation for home-grown talent led to the invitation from Tottenham Hotspur to play against the White Hart Lane outfit, Manchester United and South African side Supersports, who are one of Spurs' feeder clubs.
He said: "It's going to be a great experience for us all, one we are really looking forward to.
"It will be terrific for us to test ourselves against players of our age who are obviously among the best in the country. But we have a very good team of our own and we are confident we can give a fair account of ourselves."
Hibs will open the tournament by playing Manchester United tomorrow before facing Spurs on Saturday and winding up against Supersports on Sunday.
Fans hoping to attend the tournament at Spurs' training ground have been advised it will take place behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, Hibs have lost second place in the SPL's Under-19 League after the Hampden authorities decided to award 3-0 victories to Gretna's remaining opponents who had outstanding fixtures against the Raydale Park club. Celtic were the main beneficiaries of the ruling, allowing them to leapfrog Hibs in the table.
The full article contains 1006 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
