First memory of Roche

At a younger age at, with Naomh Bríd, I remember sitting on the old shed roof waiting for the opposition to park at the Shrine. To intimidate them we would sing “2-4-6-8-who do we appreciate-Naomh Bríd”… or something along those lines!

My first training in Roche was U14 and being part of Brian McCoy’s sessions which was probably when we really started to train as a team; felt like real footballers.

Best day supporting Roche

Like many, 2019 junior championship final win. For those guys to get across the line was unbelievable. Also great to see some of the lads I played with win a championship.

Most memorable win

A couple here to mention. In 2004, we won a Division 1B league... it could have been the McShane trophy. I have a vague recollection of the last game in Roche against St. Mary’s and we won which guaranteed us the league.

(6-7 of the big players had retired so for us to get back into Division 1A was a huge achievement. (all of the above could be way off the mark!!))

But personally the Paddy Sheelan trophy in 2008 was a highlight. We had beaten Cooley, St. Joseph's, Glyde and Máirtín's in the final to win it on a Sunday evening in Dromiskin. I had to board a flight for work at 6am on Monday morning. Needless to say I missed the flight and ended up in the airport until 2pm for the next flight. That day didn’t end well!!

Hardest defeat to take

As Mark Dowdall mentioned previously, the 2007 championship draw against O’Raghallaigh’s. We were getting a hammering and were 8-9 points down and I came on as sub after about 15 min. We scored 10 or 12 unanswered points to lead by three only for the full-forward to score a goal in injury-time. Paul Finnegan was refereeing and booked me for “intent”. I was intending to foul him a lot more…

Biggest rivalry

Not really sure to be honest. I think Cooley became a big rivalry in the noughties due to a certain transfer and some of their supporters having a go at us over a beer so any win against them was nice. A couple of our own guys are now residing in the Peninsula so it’s all pleasantries now (+ they are no good, which helps!).

Best Roche player you played with

Kevin Callaghan is up there with the greatest. His commitment is literally unbelievable. In 2015, when I was a selector, we kept a log of training sessions and games which the lads attended. Kevin missed one session the whole year.

Also a special mention to Martin McQuillan. We both made our championship debuts against the Finbarr’s in 1999. He told me it was the most nervous he ever was in his life and helped to calm my nerves. He could start an attack at corner back and would be at the other end of the pitch to tap it over the bar.

Smoocher with Kenny Gartlan and Mark Dowdall

Dressing room joker

Ken Gartlan. Anyone that had the unfortunate experience of being beside him will know why. The rest of you can count yourselves lucky!

Toughest opponent

I marked Niall Sharkey against St. Mary’s one night in Roche (for about 10 mins) and he scored three or four points. They moved Dermot in right full and I was moved out right half and I ended up on a very young Darren Clarke!

He didn’t make the dream team but Aidan Reilly was an absolute torture to mark in training. Zero chance of getting in front of him and even less chance of getting the ball off him. As the current U16s would tell you, he’s still a torture!!

Roche dream team

Aidan McCoy; Ken Gartlan, David McKeown, Colm Callaghan; Dermot Craven, Paddy McArdle, Ciarán Nash; Dan O'Connell, Aidan O'Neill; David Quigley, Gerry Craven, Gerry Murphy; Kevin Callaghan, Barry O'Hare, Martin Mc Quillan

Your Roche in three words

I will give you the five that are posted on the outside of the building

R - Respect

O - Opportunity

C - Commitment

H - Honesty

E - Enjoyment