Paul Flynn
turns 28 today, just 12 days out from this year’s
Leinster
final against Meath. He’s been part of two All-Ireland winning Dublin teams and has featured at wing forward on the last three All Star selections.
His ball-winning ability, constantly running engine complement kicking skills that were most graphically in evidence only recently with the thunderous finish for the team’s second goal in the provincial semi-final against Wexford.
Yesterday in his club Fingallians, communing with media as brand ambassador for Adidas, he mentioned one situation beyond his comfort zone, which nonetheless brought him an accolade fundamentally more worthwhile than anything from the football field.
As an advocate for Pieta House and suicide prevention, a role he became interested in after the death of a close friend, he appeared on television and admits he was nervous.
"I remember after that show that I did, the Saturday Night Show, I got a message or a mail or something like that and they said that they knew somebody that was thinking about committing . . . or dying . . . or acting . . . whatever way you say it with regards to suicide and they said they didn't. They sought help and look, you've saved one person's life.
“I was just saying that if nothing else happens after that, you don’t care. But, yeah, there’s no doubt about it, it’s an important issue to address.”
Wasn’t that an extraordinary message to get?
Nervous
“That’s why I did it (the TV programme), do you know that kind of way? And I was so nervous doing the show that time because it’s not my comfort zone. I can talk about sport or football but when you’re talking about something that you’re not really that tuned into – but then again after that it definitely was worth it, definitely.”
Dublin are coping with pressures unfamiliar to the county for nearly 40 years – that of being runaway All-Ireland favourites. As champions two years ago they struggled to get back to the required level of desire or motivation, experience Flynn feels is benefiting them this time around in keeping them on a similar track to last year.
“In hindsight you might look back at 2012 and say we might have had our eye off the ball a tiny bit. We have the luxury this year of having lads who were involved in that squad so maybe we can keep on eye on things like that a little bit more but I don’t really notice a huge difference, to be honest.”
Comparisons
Assumptions that the All-Ireland would be a procession this year underwent review at the weekend with Kerry’s slick dismantling of Cork a reminder that there’s more than one team eyeing up the
Sam Maguire
. Flynn makes a topical comparison when pointing out the fickle nature of sporting competition.
"I like to compare it to the World Cup because there is so much going on there and there are some of the best teams gone out of it and four of the best teams still in it. Teams like England, Italy and Spain have been knocked out earlier. There's no guarantees in soccer or any kind of sport. With regards to this championship it is the exact same: anything could come out of it."
