The man with master plan

After Mayo lost the last Connacht-Ulster final in 1948 to Cavan, corner-back Seán Flanagan called his team together to revolutionise their ideas on the game.

Leading a side away ahead of its time, he travelled to London to watch Arsenal with goalkeeper Sean Wynne and a few choice defenders. They spent their time focusing on how the Gunners goalkeeper organised his defence and set up their attacks from deep.

It didn’t stop there though. Flanagan visited cricket clubs for advice and, along with mentors Gerald Purcell and Jackie Carney, devised a training camp schedule.