'I love playing, it's all the other stuff' - Daniel Flynn discusses his shock Kildare retirement

He has played football for Kildare for 13 years or so, two Leinster Final appearances, three All-Star nominations; played in Australia for twelve months, every AFL division bar 4, the All-Ireland series and the Tailteann Cup, but now one of Kildare's favourite sons is stepping away, retiring at the ripe old age of 32. Daniel Flynn.

So why step away at 32?
“It feels like it has come to a natural end. I thought about it last year but when Brian (Flanagan) got the gig it made sense to go back in, I would have felt bad not to, and while this year went very well, the bulk of it was tough. It ended great but it was tough and when we finished I said that's me done. Driving to Newbridge four times a week from Enfield, 45 or 50 miles each way, bog roads, and when you do that for ten or twelve years, well ...”

And all after what can only be described as a very successful season?
“Yes, and it was great for the manager, I grew up with him, played with him, played with Flynner (Daryl Flynn), Damian (Hendy) when I first joined; Aidan (O'Rourke) I never knew before, but a good fella, very methodical what he does, keeps himself to himself but a very fine lad.”

And now Davy (Burke) coming on board next year?

“Absolutely, I'd imagine Davy will be glad to get back around Kildare; a lot of travelling up and back to Roscommon, he knows most of the lads, he will bring another edge to it next year.”

As stated Dan played in Australia, he was very young, enjoyed it but only to a certain degree.

“Australia is great, the brother is out there, brilliant lifestyle, he is loving it but I never really saw myself there for say ten years or anything like that.

“I was there for twelve months or so but the more I stayed the more I wanted to come home, my grandfather passed away, came home for six weeks, went back over, Christmas came I said 'what am I doing here, I don't want to be over here' I packed it up and came home.”

Dan's first season with Kildare was Geezer's (Kieran McGeeney) last and when he did return to Kildare Jason Ryan was the manager, followed by, as he describes him, “Doctor Cian” (Cian O'Neill).

The Lilies were operating in Division 3 of the league.

“I remember playing league games down in Tipperary and many other places, misery, playing on bogs at times, but it was good, I enjoyed it, — in a strange sort of way.”

I liked Cian, says the Johnstownbridge man, “a very good lad; he rang me at the weekend enquiring, I said I'm 12 or so years at it and it's tough going.

He replied “I'm 21 years at it, I know how you feel” but Cian has had a brilliant career as a manager/ coach, from Tipperary hurlers to Mayo, Kerry, and all the rest in between; he has some record.”

Memorable Days
So what are Dan Flynn's most memorable days?

The most memorable days, yes, Leinster final days, I played in two. The most memorable for me was 2017, we had a great crack at it; Newbridge Or Nowhere was a brilliant day.

“The first day under McGeeney, making my championship debut, I think it was against Offaly; myself and Daryl Flynn in midfield; that was really enjoyable, very fulfilling to play senior championship football for Kildare.”

Dan reckons that the All-Ireland winning seven-in-a-row Dublin side must be considered as one of the best of all time, which is hard to argue with but when I suggest maybe The Dubs are not as strong as heretofore and here you are stepping away; he laughs.

“Yes, and I honestly believe Kildare will win something, I genuinely do; it would be great for them if they did; wouldn't it be great to win a Leinster medal after playing for ten or twelve years ... but I just don't have the grá ... well I kinda do but I'm not prepared to do what it takes to play at that level anymore, you have to look at the processes involved.

“If Brian would let me rock up with a pair of boots at the weekend, I would do it all day long ... it's the going over and back to Newbridge, it's the videos, it's the gym, all the unseen stuff and if you're not built that way ... now some lads love it, I don't, I'd rather go over there and train for three hours, than do an hour-and-a-half on the pitch, a half an hour video; half an hour meeting, before and after training. It just grinds me.”

New Rules
Mention the New Rules and Dan reverts back instantly to their introduction.

“From the middle of Cian's time until the new rules came in, it just got worse and worse; more possession based; more methodical, more robotic, and then the new rules; more enjoyable; more space; less tracking back; more focus on attacking play; really improved football; two-pointers are great; would have liked to have seen a four-point goal but with the two-pointers you are never really beaten; someone gets a couple of two-pointers and it gives them huge momentum.

“I don't think we (Kildare) utilised the inside mark; a couple lads in there now are capable of doing huge damage; I'd say there will be more focus on that next year.”

One of the criticisms throughout 2025 was the lack of Kildare two-pointers, esp- ecially in the early part of the season, was that deliberate?

“We wouldn't have been told not to go for them but we wouldn't have been told to go for them either; more told if and when the shot was on yes, but no we never really embraced the two-pointers, maybe a hang-over from the old rules coming into the new rules; next year I feel Kildare will have a big emphasis on the two-
pointers, much more than this year.”

Dan Flynn always had time for fans, especially the younger ones, he could be seen signing autographs and standing in for pictures after games, regardless whether it was after a win or a loss.

“I would be very conscious if you were to turn around to a six-or seven-year old and say go away. It is very important to the younger fans in particular; they are being brought to the games; it means so much to them and takes nothing off my nose.

“You'd be coming in from games and lads coming out rushing you in to look back on the game; I think it is far more important to sign or have kids take a picture, the game is over, nothing can be done to rectify that if things didn't work out.”

Best Players
So who would the retiring player rate as the best he has played against?
“David Clifford is exceptional; but Clifford is not an out-and-out sprinter; he is not an out-and-out strong man but he is so skillful and really clever and so accurate, the obvious answer as to the best I played against is Clifford but I'd be more looking to the mavericks, the likes of Shane Walsh, or Dermot Connolly, or Ciaran McDonald, these lads; Shane Walsh probably the best for me.”

And the best he played with?

“I couldn't go there but I have played with some exceptional players.”
He does name one or two, (not for publication) adding one or two of the lads a bit like myself, happy to train for three hours, but more than happy to cut out some of the other nonsense.”

Will he continue playing with his club?

“I'd be black listed if I didn't but to be honest football is the very last thing on my mind, but come next March or April I will be back with the lads, no doubt.”

Dan has one big day penciled in for 2026 as he is marrying his fiancée, Roisin McNally, next June.

“Roisin's brother, Luke, plays soccer in England for Bristol City; poor fella did his cruciate last year; so he is recovering from that; Roisin has only one brother and no sister so we have to fix it for a time that suits him as well, that is certainly a big day to look forward to.”

Will he miss football, miss the county and all that goes with it?
A long pause ...

“I'll miss the championship, I'll miss the group; I'll miss all the boys; the rest of it I don't think so but come the championship, come next summer, no doubt that will be difficult.

“For me the league was simply something to get through; it was miserable football; not nice weather and then the Leinster Championship and the All-Ireland would come along, that is when the real football is played; that was really enjoyable; it's for six or eight weeks that you put in all the effort and I will miss that, absolutely.”

Young enough to change your mind?
A smile,
A laugh,
A pause,
A longer pause,
“I don't think so.”
We'll see!

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