Kerry’s record-setting team of the seventies and eighties may be eyeing this current Dublin team with a small amount of nervousness.
The likes of Mikey Sheehy, Eoin Liston and Ger Power put up some serious numbers, which many thought would never be touched, but now this young Dublin team come along and win three All-Irelands in five years. It could make a legend nervous.
But at least two Kingdom deities will have woken up this morning to the news that their record of six All-Stars in a row is safe for a few years yet.
Having won an All-Star at right half forward every year since 2011, Dublin’s Paul Flynn did not even earn a nomination this year, despite starting all of the All Ireland winners Championship games this summer.
So the Swords native’s quest to draw level with six-in-a-row All Stars Pat Spillane (1976-81) and Jack O’Shea (1980-85) ends at four, while the late Paidí Ó Sé is safe in second spot, with five All-Stars on the trot between 1981-85.
Flynn finished as joint top-scorer for the Dubs in the final, with two points, but an indifferent start to the summer and a couple of costly misses in the drawn semi-final against Mayo seem to have cost the Fingallians man.
He therefore remains on four All-Stars, one behind goalkeeper and captain Stephen Cluxton who, along with Flynn, Denis Bastick and Dean Rock is one of four starters from Jim Gavin’s All Ireland final team not to earn a nomination.
Cluxton, on five, therefore remains tied with former custodian John O’Leary as the Dublin player with the most accolades.
