First team football required for Flynn

Pat Flynn has made the move from the banks of the Camac to the banks of the Tolka this week as he joins Shelbourne from St. Patrick’s Athletic.  The former Waterford United and Shamrock Rovers defender has made the switch to Shels for the 2013 season to hopefully secure first team football as he exclusively told Extratime.ie.

“I’m looking to get first team football as the last two years have been stop start for me,” said Flynn who made only eight league appearances for the Saints last season. 

“Every club I’ve gone to I’ve looked to get first team football but, just my luck, the right or centre backs have been doing well.  I’m trying my luck here at Shels and I think it is the best move for me football wise and family wise.”

In addition to Flynn, Shelbourne manager Alan Mathews has added Sean Brennan from Drogheda United and has re-signed the trio of Glenn Cronin, Stephen Hurley and Philly Hughes.  Confirmed departures from Tolka Park are Conan Byrne, Paddy Kavanagh and David Cassidy.

“Alan Mathews has told me his ambitions for the season.  We’ve lost a couple of players but with those he is talking about coming in, along with the existing squad, we could realistically be pushing to be in the top four.  That is doable with the squad we have if we apply ourselves every week.”

Flynn has given up the opportunity of playing in Europa League qualifiers with Pat’s but still has ambitions to get European football soon with Shels.  Flynn won two league titles with Shamrock Rovers and played for the Hoops in Italy against Juventus in the 2010 Europa League third qualifying round.

“Europe is a great experience.  European football was one of things that might have made me stay at Pat’s but I didn’t want to stay there for the sake of that and be travelling over to Europe to just sit on the bench again. I wanted first team football and hopefully we can get Shels into Europe.”

If a defensive position doesn’t work out, the 27 year old joked he could always play up front especially if Mathews saw his last minute goal for Pat’s against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght last season.  The goal that he scored with a volley after superbly controlling a cross on his chest earned the Saints a point that day and was his only goal for the Inchicore club. 

“I’m a terrific striker and I’ve played nearly every position in the last two years.  Every chance I could play there again if he’s seen that goal!”