Former Déise star Flynn is getting a new perspective among lesser lights
PAUL Flynn stalked the sideline at Trim GAA’s grounds in Meath yesterday, his voice exhorting effort from the Down players as they began their defence of the Christy Ring Cup. It was a world away from the searing heat of the summer days in Semple Stadium and Croke Park that Flynn bestrode for Waterford, but this is where hurling has taken him.
The Christy Ring Cup, along with the Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher comeptitions, sparked to life yesterday but won’t have caused a ripple outside the few hundred diehards attending the game. Ten years into their existence, the championships for hurling’s lesser lights still struggle to make an impact.
This is Flynn’s second year of frequent trips from his home in Ballygunner to Downpatrick, in that time he has reflected on how the GAA can offer more reward to Down and other teams at the Christy Ring level.
‘It has been an eyeopening experience in many respects,’ says Flynn, who will sit on the recently-convened Hurling Development Committee and plans to draw on his time with Down.
‘It has shown me a different type of intercounty player. They are competing at a different level than what I used to play at, but the lads work hard and train hard. It’s just a pity there doesn’t seem to be much reward, the crowds are small, there are no full houses.’
Flynn feels the fixture calendar does the competition no favour. The scheduling of the Christy Ring means the competition is over by the middle of June – when summer is only starting to crank into gear.
‘The League is run off in a few weeks and then they cram the Christy Ring into a few weeks. It’s all finished before the Championship really gets going. Rather than playing it off in a matter of weeks, Croke Park should look at playing the final before an All-Ireland quarterfinal at Croke Park or Semple Stadium. At least, the lads will play in front of a full house. It’s something I will bring up at the new committee.’
Since calling time on his glittering 16-year Waterford career in the wake of the 2008 All-Ireland final, when the Déise were crushed by Kilkenny, he has served his coaching apprencticeship on hurling’s margins. He spent two years in Carlow with current Antrim boss Kevin Ryan, before receiving a surprsing phone call from Down secretary Sean Óg McAteer in the autumn of 2012.
‘At the start, there were logistical issues to be sorted but once they were, I was excited by the prospect. I felt it would be a good challenge,’ he recalls. Alongside manager Ger Monan, they set about building a team that went all the way to claim the Christy Ring title last June, after a couple of near-misses.
‘We are a bit behind the 8-ball starting off this year, because of the injuries to the likes of Gareth [‘Magic’ Johnson] and Paul [Braniff] and other players are missing for one reason or another. The lads responded well in the League, we won our five group games and think the injuries just caught up with us in the League final.
‘Having worked with Down for a couple of seasons, and in Carlow before that, the main problem is depth of talent. There are only a few hurling clubs in Down, seven in Carlow, roughly the same number in Kerry. You are working off a very small base. You need to widen the spread of talent to fully develop the game in those players, get more clubs playing senior hurling. It is not going to happen overnight, but if youngsters see their county teams play in a final in Croke Park in the height of summer, it will encourage them to keep up the game.’
As for his own coaching style, Flynn has never be a fan of the dressing-room ranter and raver, trying to stir passions. ‘I never understood why you needed to bang a table before going onto the field. Now, I have banged a few tables at half-time alright, if some lads aren’t doing what they are told,’ he says.
‘What you want to do as coach is get a response from the players, by whatever means you can.’
Trim wasn’t a place Paul Flynn expected to find himself on his hurling journey but he’s enjoying every moment with Down and is determined to make the most of it.