Tom Flynn: ‘There will be huge competition this year’
Tom Flynn in action during the Connacht FBD League Final last Sunday.
By Cian O'Connell
Manager Kevin Walsh’s brief for the Galway footballers is to be consistent and competitive. Those two words pepper most of the conversation with team midfielder Tom Flynn on the eve of another Allianz Football League Division Two campaign.
Last year Galway made significant strides winning a Connacht Championship for the first time since 2008, but it is vital that they make an impact again according to Flynn.
“To be honest we would see it as very important,” the versatile Athenryman admits about the upcoming League. “Consistency is one of our goals. That is what you prove in the League, getting consistency and results, grinding them out in games where the weather isn't the best, when you are slipping and sliding.
“We just want to back things up with solid performances. We would see Division Two as being a serious goal for ourselves, obviously Championship down the line, but at the moment getting up out of Division Two is a goal of ours.”
Johnny Duane, Fiontan O’Curraoin, and Sean Armstrong have all returned to the Galway fold, while a strong Corofin contingent is due back when their AIB All Ireland Club commitments end meaning the Tribesmen now have a bit more depth in the panel.
“Absolutely, there will be huge competition this year,” Flynn admits. Despite the absence of several established players, Galway retained the Connacht FBD League last weekend. “We were missing guys from the Championship team last year Gary Sice, Brannigan, Shane (Walsh), Damo (Comer) - other lads have come in, they will put fierce pressure on everyone else.
“The likes of Fiontan and Michael Day are hugely competent at midfield, Paul (Conroy) and I are up in the forwards now so there are great battles for positions all over the pitch. That is only healthy for the squad.
“It probably hasn't been spoken about by Kevin, but the players are definitely aware of it. Any slackening off and you will be looking over your shoulder.
“Corofin are away and they will add maybe another six or seven to the panel, even more. It is only healthy, we are pushing in the right direction. Where you want to be really is having 30 fit lads, who are all ready for Championship on a squad. At the moment that is what we are at and long may it last.”
Flynn, who won two All Ireland Under 21 medals with Galway, has been a key player for Tribesmen since making his debut as a teenager in 2011. Triumphing in the Connacht FBD League offered a boost ahead of Sunday’s interesting League opener against Cork. “It was great to get a run out ahead of next week, we are gearing towards that. It was nice to add a bit of silverware too, something we had been lacking for a long time, it is nice to keep adding to the collection regardless of what it is.”
