History awaits for Galway or Derry club sides
Who’s going to be shouting the loudest in the bowels of Croke Park this Tuesday? Who’s the stickiest marker at Corofin training? And who’s does Stephen Rochford look up to as a managerial template?
We sat down with the Corofin manager and former All-Ireland club winner with Crossmolina ahead of Tuesday’s AIB-GAA All-Ireland Club final against Slaughtneil.
Stephen Rochford
What’s the buzz like ahead of Tuesday?
It’s just incredible, the level of excitement before St Patrick’s Day. Football is the number one drug in Corofin and the supporters have given us great encouragement over the last number of months and they have been super since the county final.
What was The Toughest performance this year?
I would probably would find it hard to take away from the Miltown performance. We executed our plan really well that day and we needed to, because they are a really great tough side. At that stage it was probably our biggest challenge. Ballintubber and St Vincent’s, just by virtue of the players they had, were massive tests. It’s hard to pick the toughest between the three of them to be honest.
What was The Toughest part of the journey to the All-Ireland final?
The All-Ireland semi final, with Gary (Delaney) hitting the crossbar and then Mossy Quinn rolling in a penalty about a minute-and-a-half later. That shook us from the point of how were we going to react from it. I knew the boys would respond but what was most impressive was how positive we were after it. Going back into the lead after that sequence of events was fantastic to see and we knew then we were mentally ready for anything.
We were in control and it was the first game that we’ve gone behind in in the championship. Then when you’re playing the All-Ireland champions too that can put doubt in your mind, but the lads’ reaction was superb.
What was the the ambition at the start of the year?
We were coming back from a situation of having been been beaten by Castlebar in a Connacht semi-final. When we resumed training they were about to play Dr Crokes in an All-Ireland semi-final so you know we were a point away but we were also 12 months away from getting to where they were. Did we want to feel sorry for ourselves or did we want to get back up on the pony and drive hard through 2014? Thankfully, we’ve had a good hold of the reins since.
Who’s the loudest in the dressing room?
Shane Monaghan. One of those lads who I’d describe as a droll comic.
Who’s always moaning at training?
Gary Sice can be a bit of a moaner when all the frees don’t go his way. He does look at me like we took the toys off him with some of the face strops.
Who do players hate being marked by in training?
Close battle between Ian Burke and Micheal Lundy for the backs trying to get away from. At the other end of the field neither want Liam Silke on them.
What’s more important – belief or pure ability?
Belief and honesty. It binds the group harder. Ability is more noticeable in individuals, belief and honesty is what you want to see in a team.
Sporting hero?
From a player point of view I think Michael Jordan or Rory McIlroy. From a coaching perspective it’s hard to beat Joe Schmidt at the moment.
AIB GAA football All Ireland Senior Club Championship 14/15 Final
Corofin V Slaughtneil 4pm Croke Park
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