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Séamus Flynn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Séamus Flynn
Personal information
Irish name Séamus Ó Floinn
Sport Gaelic football
Position Right corner-back
Born 1939 (1939)
Newtown Forbes,
County Longford, Ireland
Died (aged 84)
Lanesborough,
County Longford, Ireland
Occupation Bord na Móna employee
Club(s)
Years Club
Clonguish
Harps & Shamrocks
Rathcline
Club titles
Longford titles 8
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
1957–1971
Longford
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 1
All-Irelands 0
NFL 1
All Stars 0

Séamus Flynn (1939 – 13 February 2024) was an Irish Gaelic footballer, administrator and manager. He played at club level with Clonguish and at inter-county level with the Longford senior football team. Flynn also served as a county board officer and manager.

Playing career

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Flynn first played Gaelic football with Clooneen in the local parish leagues at the age of 14. He also lined out as a schoolboy with Longford Vocational School, with whom he won a vocational schools' title. Flynn received a suspension for playing illegally in Roscommon in 1958. After serving his suspension he returned to playing with Clonguish and won a junior league-championship double in 1959.[1]

After emigrating to England shortly after these victories, Flynn continued to play Gaelic football after joining the Harps & Shamrocks club. He won a Lancashire SFC title in 1961. Flynn returned in 1962, rejoined the Clonguish club and won a Longford SFC title. It was the first of eight such title victories over the course of 12 seasons, with Flynn captaining the team in 1968 and 1972.[2]

Flynn first appeared on the inter-county scene with Longford during a two-year tenure with the minor team in 1956 and 1957. He was just out of the minor grade when he made his senior team debut in a game against Galway. Flynn's time in England saw him line out with the Lancashire county team, however, he rejoined the Longford team in 1962 and was an ever-present member during the team's most successful era.[3] After winning an O'Byrne Cup title in 1965, he was part of the team that beat Galway and New York to win the National League Division 1 title in 1966.[4] Two years later, Flynn added a Leinster SFC medal to his collection after Longford claimed their first ever title.[5][6]

Flynn was the only Longford player to captain Leinster in the Railway Cup. His club career continued following his retirement from the inter-county game in 1971. Flynn brought his club career to an end after winning a Longford JFC medal with Rathcline at the age of 45 in 1984.[7]

Administrative and coaching career

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Flynn began his coaching career while he was still a player. He was player-manager when Clonguish won back-to-back Longford SFC titles in 1968 and 1969. Flynn also trained the Kilmore club in Roscommon. He also served as a selector and kitman with the Longford senior team.

Flynn also spent ten years as Longford's delegate to the Leinster Council. He also held a number of positions at county board and club levels, including treasurer of his adopted Rathcline club. Flynn was named in the right corner-back position on the Longford Team of the Millennium.[8]

Death

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Flynn died on 13 February 2024, at the age of 84.[9][10]

Honours

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Player

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Clonguish
Harp & Shamrocks
Rathcline
  • Longford Junior Football Championship: 1984
Longford

Management

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Clonguish

References

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  1. ^ "Séamus Flynn". GAA website. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Club Titles - Longford". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  3. ^ "The Glory Years - relive Longford's GAA triumphs of 1966 & '68 in souvenir supplement". Longford Live. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  4. ^ "When New York were feared". Hogan Stand. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Five other famous Longford wins". Irish Independent. 3 February 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Leinster Senior Football Finalists" (PDF). Leinster GAA website. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  7. ^ "JFC - Roll of Honour". Longford GAA website. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Team of the Millennium". Longford Gaelic Stats website. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Longford football legend Seamus Flynn passes away". Hogan Stand. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Death of former Longford football 60's star Seamus Flynn". Longford Live. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2023.