Peerless in modern game

Munster SHC replay Profile of Paul Flynn: Seán Moran on Waterford forward Paul Flynn, who turned in a career-best performance in last week's Limerick draw

Back in August 1990 Paul Flynn lined out in the Gleeson Cup in Ardmore. An under-16 tournament between the east and west county divisions of Waterford. It was the first time Tony Mansfield had spotted the player.

"I just happened to see it," he remembers. "He grabbed a few scores but to be honest we'd have known him then as Pat Flynn's son. Pat was a very good goalkeeper in the 1960s and 70s. But by now he's become Paul Flynn's father."

Mansfield and Flynn were to have a fateful connection two years later during an extraordinary summer for Waterford underage hurling. Flynn's minor team won the county's first Munster title in 44 years - assisted by his contribution of 3-6 in the drawn final against Tipperary - and reached the All-Ireland final.

Mansfield's under-21s went the distance, beating Offaly in the replayed All-Ireland final.

Having largely left the minor star until the conclusion of that campaign, Mansfield introduced Flynn as a replacement in the drawn All-Ireland final.

In the last quarter the player scored a goal and a talking point was born. "There was this ferocious debate in the county about whether he should start," says Mansfield.

"A friend of mine whose judgment I would highly regard rang me on the Monday and his view was that we should play Flynn and eventually that was the unanimous decision of the selectors."

The management team gathered in the offices of the ATGWU in O'Connell Street, Dungarvan. Mansfield - a lifelong trade unionist - is proud that his union's premises were used to select the county's only All-Ireland-winning hurling team in nearly 50 years.

Flynn repaid the vote of confidence by scoring 0-5 from play. Such scoring exploits made the step-up to senior inevitable and fast. Suggestions that the player's performance last Sunday might have been a career best at senior level are met with the reminder that on his debut in 1993 against Kerry, Flynn also scored 3-3 in a match sensationally lost by Waterford.

Over the 10 years since, he has been a prolific scorer. In the past five years only DJ Carey and Henry Shefflin have scored more and over the same period only Galway's Eugene Cloonan has a better scoring average per match. Flynn averages just under eight points a match.

His scoring returns are so formidable that they get taken for granted and certainly provide no protection against the charges that his delivery is inconsistent and has led to under- achievement throughout his career.

When Waterford won the Munster title last year he was replaced in the second half despite a respectable 1-6, all but a point from frees.

Mansfield defends the player. "They say a lot of his scores come from frees but someone has to put them over and there's no one like him for getting goals from frees. At training I used make him stand 25 or 30 yards out so that the fellas on the line wouldn't get too nervous."

Former Tipperary manager Nicholas English says Flynn's dead-ball striking is peerless in the modern game. "I've never seen anyone do it consistently as well. We'd all give it a go in training but he does it so often on the pitch.

"I remember in a league match - I think it was in 1999 - Waterford were a goal behind and had a free 50 yards out. I was standing behind the goal and Flynn hit the free. Brendan Cummins never moved in the goal.

"It was hit with incredible topspin and hit the crossbar before coming out. It was as good a strike as you'd see."

English shares the general reservations. "He's fantastically skilful but I could see how it would be frustrating at times if you were a Waterford supporter. He has everything except consistency. If Waterford are to win an All-Ireland he'll have to play up to the standards he's capable of."

If there's no consensus on how last Sunday's display ranks in his championship career, it's safe to say it was one of the best. His 3-3 included a penalty hit with the usual lack of inhibition, a tap-in after Limerick goalkeeper Timmy Houlihan had fumbled the ball and a spectacular one-handed stroke on a line ball dropped in by Tony Browne.

Most memorable was the 100-metres free in injury time that appeared to have won the match for Waterford.

His pace over 15 metres or so is a huge asset in play and has helped create a number of goals. "He has that turbo," says Mansfield, "for 10 or 15 yards. He can pivot or run in a straight line. I heard people giving out about him at a club match, and I said: 'He's just after hitting a point from 70 yards off his left and just before that from 70 yards off his right. What else do you want him to do?'

"But I think he's matured a lot. The level of expectation has always been unfair on him but he has learned to handle publicity.

"Publicity is an advantage if you're that good and going well. It worries the opposition."