'I was actually on the B team at U15 but I worked my way up...'

WITH his blistering pace, aerial prowess and nose for goal, Robbie O’Flynn looks every inch the inter-county forward these days.

He’s been terrific for the U21s in reaching this Sunday’s All-Ireland against Tipp and made an impression in his maiden campaign for the seniors too. It was his fetch and drive that set up Seamus Harnedy’s chance which almost decided the clash with Limerick at Croker.

That’s a reflection of the significant progress he’s made since he was in and out of the Cork line-up at minor. They played Limerick twice that season and while he started the first game, he was on the bench for the second. In 2016 he won a Rearden’s Club All-Star when Erin’s Own reached the county final and hasn’t really looked back.

“I was actually only on the Cork B team at U15 and U16, Mark Coleman was the same, but I worked my way up. The team has changed over the last few years since minor. It's about hard work, the support you get from your club, and how much you want it yourself.

“We only started getting to finals at U16/U17, we weren't dominating or anything like that and then minor was a disappointment, so it's great to finally get to an All-Ireland final on a national stage. We've been a bit unlucky in the last few years so we're looking forward to this one.”

O’Flynn’s development as a hurler was intertwined with Christians’ emergence as a force in the Harty Cup. He went to sixth class in CBC before moving into the secondary school but hurling wasn’t a priority in the rugby stronghold back then.

He remembers a sheet being passed around in First Year to round up enough players to take part in the Lord Mayor’s Cup. 

That was the subtotal of their hurling that school year. A few years later they were in the Harty Cup. Outgoing principal Larry Jordan and current Cork senior selector Donal O’Mahony deserve huge credit for that.

“We were the first team in Christians to play in the Harty Cup and it was an honour. Donal O'Mahony was great throughout that whole year. He brought so many of us on as hurlers.”

He got support from home – and still does – through his parents Declan and Maire, and siblings Abbie and James, a powerhouse hurler himself. The UCC student dabbled in rugby and soccer alongside hurling until he was 15.

“I played until fourth year but I was given an ultimatum then, Harty or Senior Cup, and there was only one option in my eyes. I wanted to play them all but I always felt I needed to play hurling.”

It helped he grew up in a club where Brian Corcoran was a legend but the likes of Peter Kelly, brothers Shane and Kilian Murphy, and Hero and Bear Murphy also lined out for Cork drove Erin’s Own to back-to-back counties.

His idol was Joe Deane.

“Deano was an idol for me. I remember he came down to Erin's Own after they won the All-Ireland final and I was in awe of him, getting pictures and stuff.

“Brian Corcoran only lives down the road and he called in a few times to talk to me and he's great, a big influence. All of them are inspirational.”

Now he’s posing for selfies after games.

“I'm not used to it. Not at all. You've young fellas coming up who know your name and are asking for a picture. It's strange.”

He’s giving back what he received as a primary school pupil in Glounthane. Helping the local school out last May when they captured a Sciath na Scol crown.

“I was only involved in a small bit of coaching. Damien Irwin is massively involved and he's great. He was my Sciath na Scol coach. Shane his son was playing and he's a fine hurler. It's good to help any way you can.”

Hopefully he’ll see a few of them on Sunday evening in the Gaelic Grounds if Cork can deliver against a Tipp side they blitzed in the Munster final.

“People are coming up to us saying 'ye'll hammer them again' and you just have to say 'ya, ya' and walk away. It's a different game completely so we'd be fools to think it'll make any difference in the All-Ireland. 

"Tipp teams are always very good. Anyone who knows hurling knows that much.”

There have been complaints on the Sunday evening setting in Limerick.

“It's just a pitch. Croke Park was the same. It's always just a hurling match, grass, posts, whatever about the occasion.

“As a group we know each other's style and what works for us. It's been good to right some of the wrongs since minor because it's always been in the back of our heads.”