Bernard Flynn and that 1988 Leinster SFC final against Dublin

Thirty years on from the 1988 Leinster SFC final at Croke Park where Meath defeated Dublin, former Meath star Bernard Flynn is still playing a stormer in GAA terms and on Sunday last he was on duty at Pairc Tailteann.

It was the SFC final between Dunboyne and Summerhill and Bernard was there in his his capacity as an analyst for RTE's commentary on the showpiece of Meath club football, the Keegan Cup decider.

While he agreed that it wasn't a classic final, he highlighted the marvellous achievement of Dunboyne's David Gallagher and the strength of the Dunboyne half-back line in the victory.

Flynn also took a few minutes out of his schedule to recall that 1988 Leinster SFC final that saw Meath defeat Dublin for the second year in-a-row in the final.

The subject of the discussion was an incident that is recalled in John Scally’s new book (100 Great GAA Moments) published by Black and White Publishing.

 

“I remember it well, as if it was only yesterday, it's one of those moments that stays with you,” Flynn told the Meath Chronicle in reference to what Scally recounts in the new publication.

Scally suggested that Flynn offered the game as a fable of the power of GAA friendships.

Flynn and Dublin's Dave Sinnott both worked for Tennents Ireland as sales representatives in 1988.Flynn takes up the story in the new book.

“Dublin’s Davy Sinnott and I worked together for Tennents,” he recalled.

“The week before the 1988 Leinster final Davy and I were in the papers every day because we were going to be marking each other in the game.

“The hype was incredible, Tennents milked it for all it was worth and had arranged a reception for 60 publicans after the match.

“On the match day my wife Madeline was in the stand with Davy’s wife Marie.

“Davy was a clean player and had burst on to the scene the previous few years and was a breath of fresh air.

“I got the first few balls and then he hit me. Then I got a score and he did it again.

“I said, Davy, cop yourself f***** on. You hit me twice and if you do it again I will bust you.

 

Bernard Flynn and Dave Sinnott promoting the 1988 Leinster SFC final between Meath and Dublin.

“The ball came out towards the middle of the field and I caught him with my elbow as far as I could and burst his nose.

“The referee didn’t see my elbow, but did see Davy turning around and giving me a box.

“The game stopped.

“The crowd were going crazy. Davy was sent off. As he walked off he started to pump blood and the referee couldn’t understand why.

“I remember him pleading with the referee that I hit him first.

“I was lying on the ground and thinking of my job, the first decent job I had in my life, my new Opel Ascona that made me feel that I was Don Johnson.

“I thought of my boss who was watching me playing and I was worried that I would lose my job and my car.

“I thought of the publicans who were going to be at our reception.

“I thought of Marie and Madeline together in the stand.

“All of these thoughts went through my head in seconds.

“There was a huge euphoria after we beat Dublin in the Leister final, but then I met Madeline and Marie was with her and she was inconsolable.

“She had a bit of a go at me. Then Davy didn’t show up at the gig.

“Although it was one of Sean Boylan’s big things that the team went together after the match, but I got the word back to him that I had to find Davy.

“I went back to the gig. Hours went by and still no Davy and Marie was very worried.

 

 

Bernard Flynn at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday where he recalled the Leinster SFC final from 1988

“My boss decided to have a party in his house in Swords and Davy arrived. After an hour of drinking and thrashing it out we made up.

“I crashed my lovely car late that night.

“I had to do a promotion in Gibney's in Malahide the next day. I was in a state.

“Who was the guy who put his arm around me and got me through it? Davy Sinnott.

“What did he do?

“The next day was a bank holiday Monday.

“Great man that he was, Davy drove me to the promotion and got all the stuff I needed and helped me with my promotion in the pub.

“That’s what the GAA is all about it. I’ll never forget him for that.” 

Scally’s previous books include best-selling biographies of Dermot Earley, Pat Spillane and Ger Loughnane.
100 Great GAA Moments is out now, available from bookstores.