A true legend retires

Daysha

Waterford legend Paul Flynn has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling – and in doing so has offered his empathy to former manager Gerald McCarthy. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Tribune, Flynn revealed he will not hurl with Waterford again and also stated his continued admiration for McCarthy.

"It's just time," he says of his own decision to retire. "I've given what I can and it's time now to move on."

Along with DJ Carey, Flynn is the only player of the last 25 years to feature in the leading 20 goalscorers in championship hurling history. A senior All Ireland title eluded him but he did manage to win three Munster titles, a league and an All Star, while at underage he won an All Ireland under-21 medal and a Munster minor medal.

Full article here: http://www.tribune.ie/sport/article/2008/nov/09/flynn-retires-from-deise-and-backs-mccarthy/

It was coming, but it's still a shock to think we'll never see Flynners in the white and blue again. This guy will go down as one of the all-time greats, and a real gentleman too.

For me, I have 2 memories of him that will stay with me. The first was his 2nd half performance against Cork in the 2004 Munster final. That 35 mins epitomised what he was about. Around the 40 minute mark, he hit a pretty woeful free wide from 35 yards. A couple of minutes later, he bangs in a goal from the same distance when anyone and everyone was expecting him to tap it over the bar. He followed that with some magical points which rejuvinated the side to go on and win by a point in one of the greatest ever Munster finals.

The second was his 21" free in the last minute of the 1998 Munster final against Clare. We were 3 points down heading into injury, looking for our first title in 35 years. Flynners stands over the ball and belts it into the top corner to earn a draw. Typical Flynn.

In fact, one feeling I'll always cherish was was that moment of anticipation we ever got a free around the 20-25 metre mark and you saw Flynners standing over the ball. His reputation as one of the greatest goal-getters from the placed ball was well and truly justified. Even amongst the supporters, the decibal levels grow sharply the moment we saw Flynn placing the sliothar down ready for another strike at goal.

His final points tally will go down as 24-181 from 45 Championship appearances spaning 16 years. While it was a shame he couldn't go out on a higher note, he'll still be known as the pivotal figure in the era of Waterford hurling where we rose from the lows of losing to Kerry in 1992 (a match Flynn made his debut in) to the highs of Munster and NHL titles along with an AI final appearance.

nkay1985

Yeah it's awful to think he'll never be out there again. We all know that he's not been himself for the last two or three seasons. Even though this is the case, I think it speaks volumes about how we all felt about him that, still, anytime he came on, you could feel the excitment ripple through the crowd!

He was a prodigious talent and is the kind of player that will be forever immortalised in Waterford hurling.

Thanks for the good times Paul!

yahoo_moe

deise59 wrote: »

In fact, one feeling I'll always cherish was was that moment of anticipation we ever got a free around the 20-25 metre mark and you saw Flynners standing over the ball.

+1 from a neutral.

Not just Waterford fans that got that feeling - the guy was great during those few years when his peak matched the great form of Browne, McGrath, Mullane, etc. as part of a truly exciting team. That goal against Cork is what I'll always remember.