Jason Flynn adjusting to life as a Galway hurling supporter

In 2015, he was nominated for the young of the hurler and Flynn featured off the bench in Galway’s last All-Ireland final appearance against Limerick in 2018 where Galway were narrowly defeated by the Shannonsiders.

“To be totally honest with you, I haven’t gone too many games this year but I have been following it very closely. I went up the last day as a spectator (against Cork), I really enjoyed it. Obviously it was very enjoyable when they won it, one thing that struck me was the support of the Galway people. That’s something that’s spoken about in a Galway dressing room over the years doing it for the people of Galway,” said Flynn speaking at the launch of KFC Ireland's limited-edition hurling inspired buckets ahead of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final.

“When the Galway crowd to get behind you, they’re the best you can get and it does put a hair on your back when you hear that roar from a Galway crowd. It’s been hard, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t like to be there, you’d love to be involved and love to be a part of that squad at the moment, the way it is. You can see the real togetherness that’s there, it’s nearly easier to be a player. Your heart is in your mouth, watching it as a supporter but it’s obviously very enjoyable watching them at the moment, the way they’re hurling and getting the best out of themselves.”

READ NEXT: Martin Breheny: Galway must repeat Cork exploits on biggest stage

His clubmate Cian Daniels has adapted superbly to inter-county hurling this season. Daniels was drafted into the Galway senior hurling panel on the back of an impressive club season with Tommy Larkin which saw them narrowly be defeated by St Thomas in the 2025 Galway SHC quarter-final.

“People from outside our club would probably be surprised by Cian Daniels’ performances. From playing with him the last few years in our club, I’m not one bit surprised. He wouldn’t have hurled for Galway underage at all, he brings no baggage, he woudln’t have broken onto our senior team straight away either, when he was 18 and 19 it took him one or two years to get onto our senior team. He’s a guy at training when we are playing a possession game or a little bit of a game he would want to mark the better players that we have in the squad. He would nearly be asking us questions after the drills what we were doing to get around him or catching a ball what did we do,” added the 2017 All-Ireland winner with Galway.

“He’s a little bit differnent in that regard in a good way, he is just going for it. I think that’s a mantra with all the young lads, they have no scars from the past of losing Leinster finals or All-Ireland finals, they’re just in the now, they are no worried about tomorrow. Sometimes you get a bit older, (you wonder) whether you’ll get a chance again, he and the all the rest of the lads that age are a credit to themselves.”

Flynn sees Daniels’ progression as a lesson for younger players across the county. Daniels started all five games for Galway during the round robin series in the Leinster SHC and he has made crucial impacts off the bench in the Leinster final and the All-Ireland semi-final.

“Cian has put his best forward for Tommy Larkins over last two or three years. He is a great example for any young hurler in Galway, if you bring your club form you will be seen whether you are a back or forward or wherever you play. It’s a great influence for any Galway player who didn’t make a minor or U20 panel that you can get there, stick at it, it might take you years to get there but you will get there eventually if you put in the hard work.”

Flynn has took up a coaching role with the Tommy Larkins U20’s outfit since retiring from inter-county hurling and the coaching side of the game is something that interests him. Another clubman who is part of the Galway panel is Eanna Murphy who has had a real competitve battle with Galway’s number one Darach Fahy for the goalkeeper jersey in recent seasons.

“Eanna (Murphy) has given his years to Galway as well, you can see his relationship with Darach (Fahy) is really strong, one thing I noticed after the All-Ireland semi-final, he went straight out to Darach straight away, you could see the relationship they have. It’s exciting times for Eanna and Cian and everyone our area, our club is probably enriched in Galway hurling with Cyril Farrell being part of our club as well. There is a massive interest out our side, huge history there so it’s always nice to have somebody from Tommy Larkins involved, it seems to be a bit of a lucky charm as well,” concluded Flynn.