IT WAS FAR from an easy selection.
Paul Flynn is in the midst of his eighth season in action with the Dublin senior footballers and he’s soldiered along side a few top, top players in that time.
But if he had to narrow it down to a top six, who would make the cut?
“I’ve played on teams since 2008 and come across a load of great Dublin players,” Flynn told The42. ”There’s been lads with different skillsets and talents, so many lads that I went to war with. It’s really difficult to pick just six.”
After deliberating, here’s who Flynn went for in no particular order.
Stephen Cluxton
“In training or in the gym, he always brings his A-game. He’s the best goalkeeper that’s ever played the game in my opinion. He makes me look good anyway with his kickouts that he always delivers to the right areas.”
Ciaran Whelan
“I’d always looked up to him before I joined the Dublin panel. When I was growing up and going to games, Ciarna someone was leading the way when he played for Dublin. He soldiered for several years and was very unlucky not to get more success. He was a leader on the field. I played with him when I was starting out and his career was ending but it was great to get to play with him.”
Bryan Cullen
“Bryan has just recently retired, but it was great just to get the chance to play with him. I was wing-forward with him a lot of times. He was one of the guys I played along with in 2011 when we won the All-Ireland and he was captain. Within the team we knew how important he was to us.”
Alan and Bernard Brogan
“It’s hard to leave out either of the Brogan brothers. They’re two recent Players of the Year and while they’re two guys who played the game differently in attack, they have been real standout performers. The lads have been key to the success that we’ve had.”
Diarmuid Connolly
“He’s been fantastic over the past year, mainly for what he’s done with his club. It’s been outrageous. We were after such a tough season with Dublin but he’s then gone on to play at the highest level with the club. He’s a joy to watch the way he’s playing.”
Paul Flynn is a national ambassador for Ireland’s first Workplace Wellbeing Day taking place on Friday, 27th March. He is urging employers and employees to get involved in the wellbeing initiative targeting better nutrition and physical activity in workplaces around Ireland. Visit www.nhfireland/wellbeing for info.
