Flynn 'not surprised' by HE actions
DCU and Dublin Footballer Paul Flynn says he is 'not surprised' by the actions of Higher Education GAA Chiefs who have limited colleges to just six 'elite entry' players for the upcoming Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup competitions.
Ahead of today's draws for the 2013 Higher Education competitions, the DCU captain says the move is preventing players from playing the game that they love.
"It's disappointing that they would try and go to such measures to stop players playing our national game," said Flynn.
"That's what it boils down to at the end of the day and it's not the institutions like DCU, UCC or UCD that are going to be hurt by this, it is going to be the individuals.
"They didn't really think about what they are doing, but I'm not surprised there."
Flynn says that players are college students first and foremost, and that education comes before sport in any institution.
"That is the way it has always been in DCU," he said.
"When I walked in the door they told me that if I'm here to play football there is no point in coming in.
"You are here to get a degree and that's first and foremost and football comes in after that.
"That's the way it has been in DCU. I'm in my fourth year now and I have passed every exam and not once have I missed a lecture that I had to be at for football.
"I'm sure that's the same for every other college and that's just the way it is."
Flynn is keen to stress that this is not just about DCU, adding: "They are all giving out about it, but we are just probably the only ones who are going to stand up to it.
"There are a lot of teams in a lot of colleges hurt by this, but I can only speak for DCU because I know what it is about. But these are the rulings and what can you do."
DCU go into 2013 as not just the defending Sigerson Cup champions, but also hoping to retain the Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup.
Flynn says the January competition is a great springboard for Sigerson action.
"The main thing is getting good preparation for the Sigerson Cup whatever way that may be. We'll see. It's obviously a new format this year, so that will make it that bit more difficult, but we'll go out and we'll give it a good lash and we'll see how we get on.
"It's nice to get a few competitive games against inter-county teams, trying new lads and stuff like that.
"Obviously it is only January but some of the county teams are raring to go for a few games and it is good to get games against lads like that. It is the only real good preparation you can get going into the Sigerson Cup," he added.
