Emerging Kildare star Daniel Flynn snapped up by AFL side Port Adelaide

Having been linked with a move Down Under for some time, Kildare’s Daniel Flynn has finally put pen to paper on a move to the AFL after signing a deal with Port Adelaide.

Flynn has been earmarked as one of the brightest talents in Kildare for some time and his combination of pace, power and athleticism has had AFL clubs chasing his signature for the last couple of years. As many as six clubs are believed to have been interested in signing the 20-year old Johnstownbridge clubman but he has opted to join Port Adelaide and has put pen to paper on a two-year international rookie contract.

Welcome to the Club @FlynnersDan #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/RbsPGdUcoY — Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) October 3, 2013

  “We’ve spent some time with him over in Adelaide as well and we’ve noticed he takes to the game pretty easily,” Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is quoted as saying in The Herald Sun. “He uses the ball quite well, he’s obviously got some incredible power which we’ve seen here at the draft camp with his speed, and that’s really exciting for us. “We’ve had some interest in him for quite some time.” Flynn, who was a key figure in Kildare’s Leinster under-21 triumph and also made his senior debut this year, impressed at a draft combine while in Australia this week and wowed potential suitors with a time of 2.83 seconds in a 20 metre sprint. Commenting on the move, Flynn said of what will soon be his new home: “From the moment I got there I really enjoyed the city too. “It’s so much more laidback, the beaches are meant to be lovely and the people were very nice from the get-go. “Pace and power would be key to my game and I’ll have to work on the endurance side of things.” While his loss will be a blow to Kildare football, Flynn will travel Down Under with the best wishes of the majority of GAA followers and fingers crossed he can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Tadgh Kennelly, Marty Clarke and Pearse Hanley and enjoy a successful career in his new code.