First memory of Roche

Unfortunately, my playing days don’t stretch back to any underage action, I was around 27 or 28 when I started with GAA, having returned from Australia to join Roche ladies in their second ever season – I think it was 2006?

I grew up obsessed with soccer, as that was the only sport I could reach by bike from the house. So, I spent my youth cycling up to Fatima, playing with Castletown Celtic.

My earliest memory of supporting Roche would have been any given Sunday on the bank listening to Roche supporters trying to figure out which McKeown twin the ref was talking to!

Constant chorus, “it’s Derek, no it’s David” and on it went. They were great to watch, never still, never quiet – skill and feistiness in equal measure!

Best day supporting Roche

Not sure this qualifies as a day supporting Roche because I was two-years-old! But there’s a photo of us as kids with the Joe Ward in 1980. It hung proudly in the home house from as far back as I can remember. It was definitely Dad’s best day supporting them. The first time he ever had a drink in his life was out of the Joe Ward after Roche won.

More recently, the men’s historic win up in the O’Connell’s, topped off with Liam’s speech and MOTM for Kevin Callaghan – what a day.

The Grant family with the Joe Ward Cup.

Most memorable win

All the way back to 2007. The intermediate championship final in Shelagh against the Gers. It was just my second season playing and we had such a strong panel that year, including local soccer legend herself, Bronagh Malone. Herself and Rosie Heeney were the best midfield pairing in the county. It was a very proud day for me as Roche captain.

Hardest defeat to take

The senior championship final against Stabannon in 2011, played in St. Mary’s. It was that rare occasion where we outplayed the champions but somehow lost on the day.

We had a hard-fought semi-final win in Haggardstown against the Gers the week previous, I came off with a broken finger in the second half. The following Sunday we lined out in Ardee for the final and everything just clicked, I think we played our best football that day, but it wasn’t enough to win, and that hurt (along with the finger!) for a long time.

Biggest rivalry

Stabannon. Oh the nightmares about that team. I never slept the night before playing them and certainly never slept after it. I think back over the years playing them and realise, sadly, we never had the collective belief we could beat them.

They were so dominant with Grace Lynch running the show year after year. Grace and myself were great friends during those days having enjoyed many training sessions in Darver together. That’s the great thing about football, friendships always outlast the whistle.

Roche dream team

Tara McGivern; Michelle McCourt, Arlene Stalley, Katie Halligan; Aoife Halligan, Niamh Callan (captain), Louise Byrne; Megan Fitzpatrick, Rosanna Heeney; Jennie McCourt, Aisling Begley, Lauren Meehan; Nicola Mills, Tracey Rogers, Shauna Finn.

Best player you played with

A coin toss between Rosanna Heeney and Niamh Callan.

Rosie, although years younger, she was the player I aspired to be. She is pure footballing talent and has that Heeney intelligence on the pitch, always had her homework done on our opponents, so I made sure to sit beside her in the changing room!

She may well be the club’s most decorated player between her club, county and All-Britain successes.

Niamh Callan, a different style of player and the unsung hero of Roche ladies. So casual and humble in how she approaches her football but has proven herself time and again to quieten every and any opponent.

The backbone of Roche Emmets teams over the years and is everything a No6 should be. I’d have loved to have had to chance to play the current talent, Louise Byrne, Abi Keenan, Seona Halligan to name but a few.

Dressing room joker

Dearbhaile Shiels – Loud, very loud, but very witty. Great to break the tension and lighten the mood.

Toughest opponent

Has to be Stabannon’s Jenny McGuinness. A healthy rivalry is the nicest way I could put it!

She was that player who frustrated me to the brink every match. I knew I was up against her for pace and hunger to score, she burned me many Sunday mornings.

I knew I hadn’t enough to keep her quiet, it killed me. We played Stabannon in the semi-final of the championship four days before my wedding and with the history of injuries from playing them, vanity kicked in, I opted not to chance having a shiner for the big day. What a regret that is ever since!

Your Roche in three words

Pride, friendship, loyalty.