Flynn: Gunners have right blend

BALLYGUNNER legend Paul Flynn says his clubmates, who face Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh in the Munster club SHC semi-final on Sunday, are a more experienced outfit than people think.

Ballygunner are reaping the rewards of extensive underage success, with promising youngsters like Padraic Mahony and Brian O’Sullivan graduating to the senior side, and Flynn says that should help this weekend.

“I was going to say that the experience of the Munster club championship isn’t so much within the team as the club,” said Flynn.

“But when you think about it, a good few of Sunday’s team also played in the Munster club final two years ago. Willie Kiely, Stephen O’Keeffe, Alan Kirwan, Shane O’Sullivan, Wayne Hutchinson, David O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan, Stephen Power, Padraic Mahony and Andy Maloney. So they’ve been there. The team’s quite young but they’ve won a lot of underage stuff together and they’re all very good hurlers — they don’t rely on brawn, they’re a hurling team.”

They showed that quality against Drom & Inch in the previous round, putting out the Tipp champions in Semple Stadium.

“That was a huge win,” said Flynn. “To go up to Thurles and beat the Tipperary champions was a big challenge. James Woodlock played well for them on the day but Seamus Callanan didn’t fire up front. If our lads had been more accurate on the day we might have won more comfortably, but that’s something that comes with experience, to use that word again.

“Going up to Thurles and beating the Tipperary champions — who were probably favourites for the title — was a great achievement.”

Flynn admitted he’s not familiar with Na Piarsaigh but doesn’t feel home advantage is a huge help.

“The lads obviously know Walsh Park well, and that has to be an advantage. But if Walsh Park is heavy this weekend it won’t suit either team, and that would level things out.”