First memory of Roche

Togging out for Naomh Bríd, possibly at 6 or 7, in the shelters in Kilcurry. Jim Goss always tied the football boots for me.

Best day supporting Roche

Roche vs Blues in Castlebellingham (2000 SFC semi-final). Gerry Craven’s fisted goal. Was standing as a 16-year-old with few Pat's lads. "There is a goal in Roche," Christy Connor commented, and up popped a young, classy Craven. Unfortunately, the Blues had Simon Gerard to score a great, equalising point at the death.

Most memorable win

Possibly the hard fought victory over the Pat’s in the Cardinal O'Donnell final played in Dowdallshill (2001). Any time we beat the teams from the peninsula was nice, though it didn’t happen near enough.

Hardest defeat to take

Junior final 2015. Team missing one of our leaders in Davy Quigley due to illness. We didn’t perform for the full 60 minutes and were well beaten. To top it off I was shown two yellows and sent to the dressing room early for the only time playing for Roche. I boarded a plane the following evening to Saudi Arabia for work so no drowning my sorrows!

Gerry playing against Westerns in his later years with Roche.

Biggest rivalry

We have had a few over my playing time, while Martin McQuillan was at the helm I loved playing against the Kickhams... I always got a buzz getting a score or two as my mam’s family is from Willville and I ended up out at school in the Bush with a few lads that played for many years with Cooley.

Roche dream team

Aidan McCoy; Brendan Callaghan, Dermot Craven (captain), Duane Callan; David Quigley, Ciarán Nash, Colm Callaghan; Martin McQuillan, Aidan O’Neill; Kevin Callaghan, Paddy McArdle, Martin Craven; Dan O’Connell (coming out as a free man), Gerry Craven, Barry O’Hare.

Best Roche player you played with

A few lads early on. I played with McQuillan towards the back end of his Roche career; the man had some engine and vision on the field. Obviously lads mention Aidan O’Neill but I didn’t play long enough with ‘Hog’, so for me, NO DOUBT, it would definitely be Kevin Callaghan. Left foot, right foot, it was like a spring when hit. Kevin could take a knock and give it yet no nasty stuff with him.

A really talented baller that just loves playing for his club. I remember Roche playing the Joe’s in a league game at the start of his senior years with the rain pelting down. He was sliding in on the grass, collecting balls fed to him from McQuillan. No-one could contain him when he was at his best.

Dressing room joker

Another Callaghan... Brendan. You couldn’t beat that lad’s team in training. He would rip into you if he thought he had you and it would last for the next few sessions. From throwing up before games and then to play an absolute stormer, one of the bravest and commuted to a challenge I played alongside.

Toughest opponent

Probably Alan Page, destroyed me one year in championship in the Clans field. I walked off the field embarrassed, ashamed, yet not knowing how I was so poor. Not that I didn’t do that often... but this one I can still remember!

Your Roche in three words

Friendship, camaraderie, workrate.