ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
SUPER 70: Swords Celtic sides score 70 goals across all underage levels P30
SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
NEED FOR SPEED Making waves in Japanese F3 P29
Flynn set for AllIreland challenge
GazetteSPORT
Paul Flynn, seen here with fellow Dublin footballer, Kevin Nolan, is set for the test of Kerry at Croke Park in the senior football final
Fingallians’ man ready to face Kerry at Croker as the Dubs chase first football crown since 1995 this weekend STEPHEN FINDLATER swordssport@gazettegroup.com
WITH All-Ireland final day fast approaching, Fingallians’ man Paul Flynn is looking forward to putting in his now trademark work-rate for the Dubs against Kerry on Sunday in Croke Park. The Swords’ man has been one of the revelations in Pat Gilroy’s side, as they go in search of a 23rd senior football crown and first since 1995. The previous one does not ring too many bells in his memory, but he knows that the side will have to strain every sinew to get past a fancied Kingdom side. “I do what I have to do, and the hard work comes first. I try to get a good supply of ball into the full-forward line and link up the play,” he said. “After that I try to get a few scores, if possible and, this year, I’ve been doing that, but it’s a bonus. If I can pass the ball to someone
else 10 times and we get 10 scores, I’ll be just as happy.” He will not be inhibited by injury as initially feared, showing some mirth at the level of concern for his well-being after he came off a few minutes from the end of the semi-final tie against Donegal. Jitters
His hamstring had “popped”, causing plenty of jitters as supporters worried that a potential All-Star candidate was set to be ruled out of the decider. “When it happened, I was just frustrated. When you hear that popping you fear the worst, but once I saw the scans I was delighted. “I’ve never had trouble with my hamstrings before, but maybe because it’s so far into the season now that it’s just getting a little bit tired. “I was definitely 100% alright before the Donegal game. It happened in the 67th minute,
so I’m sure it was just fatigue. “People keep asking me about it, but it’s the same question, same answer. I should probably go around with a sticker on my head saying ‘I’m grand’.” While the Donegal tie was one of the scrappiest on record, many have viewed it as a formative moment for the Dubs, a victory that may not have been ground out two years ago. Posed this question, and whether the mental strength will be a factor, Flynn says simply: “We’ll never know. We maybe wouldn’t have the character the lads showed but I think we have developed as a group. Against Tyrone [in the quarter-finals], we’ve shown we have developed as a group and, against Donegal, we were able to win dirty. “In fairness to Pat, he’s done really well, great work on our defensive system and now it’s not hindering our attacking as well. We’ve got a lot of talent there so, hopefully, we can keep it up.”