Flynn to decide on Waterford future ‘over the next 10 days’

PAUL FLYNN will make a decision on his inter-county future ‘over the next 10 days’.

The Waterford hurling star has not played since the Déise’s shattering All-Ireland hurling semi-final defeat to Limerick last August but with Justin McCarthy’s side kicking off their championship campaign against Clare in just over four weeks, he knows that the time for weighing up his options has come to an end. Flynn has been one of hurling’s most mercurial players since bursting on to the scene in stunning fashion by scoring three goals as Waterford drew with Tipperary in the Munster minor hurling final back in 1992.

The 33-year-old intimated his recent struggles with injury had been taking their toll when speaking at yesterday’s launch of the 2008 FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge at Carton House in Maynooth.

“We haven’t totally decided what we’re doing so over the next few days we’ll have to make a call on it.

“The body will make the decision. Everybody thinks they go on forever but they can’t.

“We’ll see over the next 10 days.

“I’ve been training away but whether it’s good enough for inter-county level, we’ll have to take a look at that.”

There was a hint though that maybe Flynn isn’t ready to bring his era of wizardry to an end just yet, when he was asked how Waterford had managed to put setback after setback behind them in the past decade to continue their quest for All-Ireland glory.

“You have to keep coming back” he replied. “It’s either that or quit. We’ll have time enough when we quit so while we’re able we might as well.”

Meanwhile Waterford sharpshooter Eoin Kelly admits his chances of being fit for the Munster SHC clash with Clare are “touch and go” following his broken hand on Saturday night. Kelly was starring for his club Passage East against Lismore in the Waterford SHC when he picked up the injury.

“I can’t remember something in particular happening to my hand,” said Kelly yesterday.

“It got very sore and started to swell up, and then I knew there was something seriously wrong with it. It’s a bone broken in my hand rather than a finger. At this stage it’s touch and go whether I’ll make the Clare game. I’m hopeful that I’ll make it but the game may be a week or two too early for me.”

It’s the latest injury headache for Waterford coach Justin McCarthy. He is already without corner-back Eoin Murphy, who missed several league games with a broken thumb and had only returned to training with the county when he fell awkwardly at a session and broke his arm in three places, necessitating the insertion of a metal plate. The Shamrocks defender is regarded as having no chance of making the championship game against Clare, but depending on how quickly his injury heals, star wing-forward

Kelly may just about be fit to line out.

Meanwhile former Hurler of the Year Tony Browne is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a red card within 30 seconds of his introduction by Mount Sion in the championship game against Abbeyside at Walsh Park on Sunday.