'You dream of doing things like this'

Visualisation is a technique that Jordan Flynn has always used in his career. But not even he could foresee the moment and feeling of Mayo ending their All-Ireland final hoodoo at 5.10pm last Sunday.

“You think of these things and to be fair, I didn't just start it this year. You do it every year and obviously things don't work out. You envision winning Connacht titles, and you get pumped in the semi-final.

“These things happen, you just kind of got to stay with them. But when something like that does come to the fore and you get to live out what you've seen for weeks, it's very special.” 

That feeling of Mayo being All-Ireland champions sinking in is, in his own words, magic. Almost zen-like.

“I mentioned a few times there after the game that when the game was over, it was probably the most relaxed I was ever after a win like. It's kind of a bit surreal but I suppose once we all kind of got in together, you know, it was just the group and everyone that was involved, it’s kind of really sank in what we've just achieved and it's unbelievable now to be fair.”

Over the journey, players become brothers and Flynn had the real thing in Kobe McDonald as they held Sam aloft in the Hogan Stand.

“It's amazing. I suppose you dream of doing things like that, but you never really think that they come into it.

“To get to have that kind of ticked off the list of achievements is something special and it's something that we'll hold very closely forever.

“I’d be a big man for the manifesting and all that sort of stuff. This week especially has been a big thought process of getting to go up the steps with him and do something like that because I suppose you do dream of it, but you never know if it's going to come to the fore.

“We knew we were going up the steps together it was special. It was class and my family was there and my uncle came home from Australia for the game, came home yesterday. It was nice to have everyone under the one roof and get to witness it. It’s something special.” 

The game had its challenges for the Crossmolina Deel Rovers man. Kerry were seven points up after 15 minutes when Flynn picked up an early yellow card. But there was no hint of manager Andy Moran being pragmatic and withdrawing him in fear of a sending off.

“I suppose I'm bit frustrated with myself to have gotten the yellow so early. But to be fair to Andy, he's done the same thing he's done all year. He just spoke to me at half time, and he said I’m not going taking you off. Just keep doing your thing and just play with a bit of an edge.

“My game is kind of very fine line between getting a yellow or playing well or whatever. He just said to me keep doing your thing, and he just trusted me, and I suppose I was delighted with that.” 

That edge and intensity was something Kerry struggled to live with. Combined with men with a penchant for two-pointers like Ryan O’Donoghue and Flynn’s midfield partner Jack Carney, the Kingdom had no answers.

“It probably comes from the management, and I suppose the S&C as well, we feel like. Every one of us had the same thought process, step up, not back and whatever happens happens, and if someone steps you, someone will cover you.

“[Jack Carney] hit two two-pointers, at perfect timings for us. They were two unbelievable scores and to be fair he gave a great ball up the line there under pressure to McBrien that got us out of trouble with 30 seconds left.

“The sort of kick pass, you'd be thinking, jeez don't kick it but he was just in a flow set, he was unbelievable. What a ball to get up the line and just get us out of trouble and once we went into the corner, obviously Tommy scored, but once we got down in corner we knew then that was it really, you could start getting excited.”