For Galway's Jason Flynn, comfort comes in the quiet moments with a lost brother
HEAVEN SENT: Galway’s Jason Flynn lifts the Liam McCarthy cup and points to his inspiration after the 2017 All-Ireland SHC final win over Waterford. Pic: James Crombie, Inpho
The matchday visits to Ballinakill cemetery have become less frequent. His maroon chapter recently closed, Jason Flynn’s routine of calling over to his brother’s grave on the morning of a game is now reserved for local matters.
For as long as it has been a cornerstone of his matchday itinerary, there is no one reason why he stands at the final resting place of his older brother, Paul, the morning of a game.
He’s never looked or asked for anything when at the grave. Indeed, there were mornings where he never said a word while there.
There is comfort in calling over. There is a reminder too of why he’s taking to the field and who he is seeking to honour while out there. That much Jason knows and has always leant on.
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At some point in the days after 24-year-old Paul Flynn died tragically in October 2008, his then 13-year-old brother pulled out a piece of paper and made a written promise to do everything in his power to represent Paul as best he could.
Jason’s retirement from the inter-county scene last winter offers the perfect opportunity to review that pledge.
It shows he was that rare breed of a three-year county minor. Played all three years too. He was a gangly 15-year-old when lining out at half-forward in Galway’s 2010 All-Ireland minor quarter-final win over Waterford. He threw over three from play in the following year’s decider success over Dublin.
He was still a teenager when handed his first senior championship start for Galway’s 2014 Leinster semi-final against Kilkenny. He was nominated for young hurler of the year in 2015. He was a two-point contributor on the 2017 afternoon of the county’s famine-ending Liam MacCarthy triumph.
He operated at altitude for 12 seasons. He made good on his promise to Paul. He carried on the flag his brother left behind.
“He’s had a massive impact on my life and sporting career,” said Jason of a big brother who was himself part of the Galway hurling panel when his car crashed into a wall outside Loughrea 18 years ago.
“I was 13 when he passed, very young, and hurling was a huge help to me at that age.
“To be quite honest, I made a massive promise to him when he passed away that I'd do everything I could to represent him and my family as best I could. It might sound a bit cliche, but that's what I did.”
The white Cooper helmet Paul wore when subduing Kilkenny’s Richie Power during the 2005 All-Ireland U21 final was kept in service by his younger brother. And when eventually it had to be retired, Jason purchased himself a fresh white Cooper.
It was this white Cooper he fastened ahead of his 54th minute introduction into the 2017 All-Ireland. He raised a white flag within a minute of his arrival. He added another before the finish.
On that day and every other, Paul never feels too far away when the helmet is pulled on.
“It makes me feel like a part of him is with me. Wearing a white Cooper was part of him, so it was nice to have one on in 2017,” continued the 31-year-old. “I was just so happy to see the pride of my family after the win in 2017. The tears in my father’s eyes told its own story.
“It was a dream come true, and I'm just so proud that I was able to do it for Paul, as much as my family and the people around home that helped me get back into the swing of things.”
It being Leinster SHC final weekend, we return to the 2017 edition. Flynn had played every minute of their Leinster quarter and semi-final victories. He’d entered summer in rich form. His 2-1 from play put him top of the charts when crushing Tipp in the League final. But then Wexford happened. Collective delight, personal dismay. Whipped off after only 31 minutes.
“Coming off at Croke Park before half-time, a game that was on television, I found that tough. It hit me hard. You feel you let yourself and your teammates down,” Jason, an SNA at Mercy Woodford, recalled this week.
“Thankfully, I found a bit of form again, got on against Tipp in the semi-final and got on in the final, so it just proves everyone has an off day. Looking back, there's no shame in it, you just have to accept that sometimes you weren't on your game.
“I got into that impact role then of coming on, where obviously I prefer to be starting. I probably overthought it at times. I remember we did something in small groups as players and I said that when coming on as a sub, I’d love to be getting 1-2 or 1-3, but David Burke was like, ‘you shouldn't be thinking like that because if you scored 1-2 in any game you’d be happy, but when you’re coming on with 20 minutes remaining, to make an impact do something simple before thinking about scoring’.
“I was probably overeager to get on the ball and score, to win the game yourself, rather than come on and just do a simple thing like win a free or give an easy pass. David’s words were a huge learning for me, not to lower my expectations but get yourself into a game rather than setting yourself up to fail.”
The role of impact sub sustained. He came off the bench in the 2018 Leinster final and All-Ireland semi-final replay victories, the subsequent decider defeat to Limerick, as well as the 2020 All-Ireland semi-final near-miss against the same green opposition.
His maroon chapter started so differently. He was so central to the forward operation under Anthony Cunningham that in 2015 he was entrusted with long-range free-taking duties. It didn’t matter that Joe Canning was part of the same line-up.
Twenty minutes into that September’s All-Ireland final, the 20-year-old trotted back inside his own 65 and punished Joey Holden’s foul.
Mind you, he didn’t need the long-distance boomers to stand out. On the stroke of 70 minutes in the All-Ireland semi-final, his audacious effort from the Cusack Stand sideline brought Galway level with Tipp.
“It was mad, really, because Joe was the established free-taker, but he had a bad hand injury earlier in the year, so it was trusted on me to take the long ones. A surreal experience but I relished the responsibility and looked forward to proving that I could put them over.
“Looking back, it definitely was my most consistent year. Myself and Cathal Mannion, who also came on the scene the year before, hit massive heights together that year.”
The second half of the 2015 final is best forgotten. Galway were a shell of their first-half selves. Somewhere in the blur of full-time disappointment, Flynn crossed paths with James McGarry. The Kilkenny selector offered his commiserations. Flynn offered his thanks for the incredibly thoughtful gesture of six years earlier.
“At Paul’s wake, James McGarry, Martin Comerford, and one or two other Kilkenny hurlers came to the house and shook our hands. They probably didn't really know Paul, but it was a testament to the people they were.
“I remember being in awe of them at the time, and even in dark circumstances you do appreciate, when you're that age, All-Ireland winners coming into your home for no big reason other than the respect they had for a fellow inter-county hurler.”
At the 2009 Galway-Kilkenny Leinster semi-final a year later, fellow Tommy Larkins clubman Cyril Farrell passed onto Jason a signed Kilkenny jersey and letter from McGarry.
“I suppose he had gone through his own tragedy (McGarry’s wife, Vanessa, was killed in a 2007 car accident). I still have the jersey and letter at home. He just spoke about the importance of sport, and how you get no better help than you will from your hurling club and the GAA, that they were there for him and they’ll be there for me. He heard I was a young and aspiring hurler, and just to keep at it.
“I shook his hand after the 2015 final and told him I never forgot what he sent up to me.”
The young and aspiring hurler is now a retired League, Leinster, and All-Ireland winner. In a winter of much change, he married his fiancee, Róisín, a month after closing his Galway chapter.
Matchday visits to Paul’s grave are now connected to his ongoing journey in the black and red of Tommy Larkins.
“Going over there on the morning of a game, I just find it helps me. I did it when I was younger and I stuck to it. You’re not really looking for much. You’re not asking for anything. Just say a little prayer and hope everything goes well.
“There's days where you might not even say anything or think of anything when you go over, but I guess it grounds me, sets out my stall for the day, and why I am doing it and who I am doing it for.”
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