Flynn household’s hectic schedule no impediment to Orla shining for Leitrim

Playing inter-county football must seem like a full-time job at times, on top of everything else in your life but imagine the challenges you’d face if you are in the first year playing with your adopted county, looking after a new born son and your husband is also playing inter-county football! Welcome to the world of Orla Flynn.

The Cavan native is the wife of Aidan, mother to Noah and in her first year with the Green & Gold as she looks forward to  Sunday’s TG4 LGFA All-Ireland IFC  Final clash with Tyrone  as she proudly calls herself a ‘Leitrim Lady'.

“Originally, I'm from Cavan and I would have played for my clubCrosserlough, won two senior championships down there and I had a little bit of a stint with Cavan ladies. Then, probably for the last six years, I've been living down in Leitrim and then asked me in the panel there last November. So delighted to be involved in what's happening here and proud to call myself a Leitrim Lady now.”

With a newborn son Noah, committing to an inter-county campaign is not easy, particularly when your husband is doing the same but Orla pays tribute to their families for help in making it work: “When Jonny asked me to come in last November, Noah was three, four months at the time  and I was a bit apprehensive about coming in.

“Obviously you've self doubts as it is, you're going through a lot but I just took it week by week and we kind of went week by week or every month. The important thing is I played camogie and football so just because I had a baby doesn't mean sport has to end. This opportunity came up and Aiden was very supportive, as were family and friends - we wouldn't be able to do without them.

CAPTAIN MICHELLE GUCKIAN LEADS LEITRIM BY EXAMPLE

“In particular, Aiden's parents and my own mother, they were always like there, never said no -  any time we needed them and very rarely missed any training because of babysitters or whatever. Either Noah was brought to matches or he went to Cavan, it would always just work out that no one would ever say no, there was always somebody there to help out. And we wouldn't work if we didn't have that support behind us.”

Joining a county set-up in your adopted county can be pretty daunting but Orla feels the welcome she got from everyone involved in Leitrim LGFA, dissolved any doubts she had: “Everyone has their own mental self doubts but every single person was so welcoming. I think it's been said in a few interviews, how we're like a family, and we're a really close knit group and I honestly do feel like I've been here for years. Everyone gets on, everyone's friends and I've made friends for life.”

That bond carries onto the field believes the Leitrim Gaels clubwoman: “I know for myself and I'd say for everyone on the team, we have such belief in each other, it doesn't really matter who we're playing, we're just going in, we back each other. We're trusting our management and that's what's getting us over the line every time.”

Orla Flynn pictured with her husband Aidan and son Noah after a Leitrim Men's match against London earlier this year Picture: Willie Donnellan

Against Wexford in the semi-final, that spirit came to the fore: “You could see the spirit and belief in how much everybody wanted it. We're a small panel, but at the same time every single person gets on, there's no like but there is not just one thing the reason we’re in the final - it's the management, it's the county board, it's the players, the efforts we put in, and everyone wants the same goal. It really is a nice place to come training every week, it is a bit like a club team, really, in some respects.”

Orla sees herself as a midfielder first and foremost but has lined up in the defence and attack, more than happy to play her part wherever she can: “I’ve number 10 on my back but I probably revert into midfield. That would be my natural position and thankfully, Jonny gave me the chances in different positions and luckily enough, I've had the game time, just really lucky to be part of it.”

The first round clash with Tyrone saw Leitrim come back from an eight point gap to win by one and Orla believes it will infuse the squad with self belief: “I had to watch it back, to be honest, funny enough, I’veI heard a few people that thought like we're heading out the door with 15 minutes to go, because they thought the game was over, but I never felt like that. 

VIVIENNE WILL BE CHEERING ON HER LEITRIM TEAMMATES FROM THE SIDELINES

“I think that was the same for every player on the pitch, we were just next ball, next ball every time. That's why we are where we are now, because it doesn't matter what the opposition are doing, we're always thinking about the next ball and the next play. We haven't dropped our heads any time any team has gone ahead of us, we push on all the time.”

Next Sunday, Croke Park is the destination and Orla, for one, is looking forward to the occasion: “It's unbelievable, I can't wait. It's gonna be some experience to be part of the team and I’m really proud to be even involved in this. Obviously, as a personal note, it's a lovely thing that Noah is going to be in the stands in Croke Park twice in one year. It's incredible, a dream come true.”

As for a verdict, Orla says “I have such belief in our team and I trust every single player, everyone plays a role and please God, we get over the line on Sunday.”