Flynn looking forward to life under Gavin

The aftermath was significant with manager Pat Gilroy calling time on his four-year term and his former team-mate from the 1995 All-Ireland winning side Jim Gavin, manager for the county under-21s two All-Irelands in three years, taking over.

Flynn was too old to play for Gavin at underage level but, although sorry to see Gilroy depart, is enthusiastic about the change at the top.

“It’s like anything, like a new job, you have to work hard and prove yourself to the new manager because they are obviously going to have their own views.

“The little bits I’ve seen, I’m very impressed – his attention to detail and stuff. But you have probably had more contact with him than I have, one meeting and that’s it. We are off now until December 8th.

“There’s such an attachment there with a manager who brings you to All-Ireland success because it’s such a long journey and such a difficult journey. Obviously Pat had a lot of time for me and he developed me so much, as a player.”

Armagh’s Joe Kernan recounted how the late Eamonn Coleman had told him that the one contingency a manager can’t fully plan for is injury. With 2011’s Footballer of the Year Alan Brogan off the field for the crucial late championship, Dublin struggled.

Another difference for Dublin from last year was the withdrawal for personal reasons of coach Mickey Whelan, whose vast experience and acuity played a big part in the All-Ireland success.

Flynn knows him well having met him in DCU.

“If you lose someone like Mickey Whelan from your panel, no matter what team it is, you are going to struggle to some degree,” he says.

“He was attached loosely (this year) and he had an input. You’d miss his presence about the place though because he knows players, he can read players and he knows if lads are working hard or if they need to lay off a little bit.

“He’s a character. Even when he used to just come up and watch us at a training session, all the lads would be up to him. He’s just an inspiring sort of person and you would miss him around the place, yeah.

“I’m not saying that was the reason (for not retaining the All-Ireland), but any team would miss someone like Mickey.”