TOM FLYNN HOPES that Dublin’s All-Ireland win will help to reinforce Galway’s footballing roots.
The Tribesmen open their league campaign when they take on Meath in the pick of the Division 2 fixtures tomorrow.
Alan Mullholland’s side are determined to get off to a strong start so that they can leave last summer’s nightmare behind them.
The ease with which Mayo scythed their way to the All-Ireland final has cast the 17-point drubbing at Pearse Stadium in a slightly less embarrassing light, and there were signs of redemption in Galway’s run to the fourth round of the qualifiers.
Flynn has no doubt that they can make progress by playing their traditional game.
“We’re not as naive as we’re made out,” he said yesterday.
“Personally, I love being able to spread the ball around and bring the more stylish forwards into the game but we do have lads who can win hard ball. They’re really showing that we can play both styles.”
Dublin’s success with a free-flowing game, and the plaudits that were showered on Jim Gavin’s men last summer, will encourage others to follow suit.
“It was really refreshing to watch, between them being great athletes and well able to play football as well.
It gives hope for the kind of footballing counties that you can get to that level.
For Flynn himself, there were as many positives as negatives to be taken out of last season. After nine months on the sidelines with a meniscus tear in his knee, he returned in time to help Galway’s U21s clinch the Connacht and then the All-Ireland title.
With the senior squad, the Mayo match sticks out like a sore thumb but their reaction afterwards set an encouraging tone for 2014.
We were gearing towards Mayo and it was such a shock. We’ve a relatively young panel as well and it was really tough to take that.I think we reacted positively.
“I know the Tipp and Waterford games were close enough but we came through then with the Armagh win and we were close enough to Cork.
“It would give us hope for this year that we can build on that and keep going the way we’re going.”
– Tom Flynn was speaking at an event to announce that Bank of Ireland has its extended its partnership with the DCU Sports Academy for a further three years to the end of June 2016.
