First memory of Roche

I have a few small memories of running round the field when young. Normally behind the goals getting the ball when it was kicked over by the players warming up. There would be a crowd of us running after them. But the first main memory of the football would be attending what I thought was a Roche Emmets annual minor final.

I went to the 91, 92 and 93 wins and then onto the celebrations afterward. Again a crowd of 10/11-year-olds running round the Barleycorn or the clubrooms after winning a big trophy was great fun. Couldn’t understand what was happening when we didn’t get to the final in 94….

Best day supporting Roche

As a club we had some great days supporting Roche in general. The likes of the big fundraisers were great when the whole parish came together in aid of the club... Strictly, TV Hits, World Record, etc. From the football side it was great supporting them and celebrating any big win, ie. the minor finals, intermediate in 97 or Cardinal O’Donnell in 01.

But the best day was definitely the junior championship win in 2019. This was a team that was full of lads I had either played with or been involved with as a selector. To see them go through the championship and lift it was superb. Celebrations were hugely enjoyable as well.

Most memorable win

So many wins were memorable for different reasons. Any game where we were underdogs and came out on top was always extra special. I recall beating a good Dreadnots team with the likes of Colin Kelly in the league in Roche one Saturday afternoon when we only had 16 players and were expected to be hammered.

Also, being a selector with Davy Quigley and Brendan McArdle for the U21s and beating the Gers with a last minute 45 from our keeper Jamie O’Hare was really enjoyable. From a personal side, captaining the minor team to our championship in 1999 was brilliant. But overall the most memorable would again be the junior championship win in 2019. To come through two replays and finally get over the line was fantastic.

Hardest defeat to take

Any match we let slip in the closing minutes was always tough. Two games in the 2009 championship group comes to mind. Hunterstown and Na Piarsaigh. We let last-minute goals in in both and we were out of the championship. Hard to take and I don’t think the team or manager deserved it like that.

But the hardest result to take was actually a draw. 2007 championship vs the O'Raghallaigh's in, I think, Louth Village. We were being beaten well in the first half and made a couple of changes. Went on to score eight or nine unanswered points to be winning near full-time. Then we let a goal in, drew the game and out of the championship...

Biggest rivalry

We seemed to have different rivalries with teams at various stages. Went through periods where the Naps were a big game and then Glen Emmets were our main rival. But you can’t look past our neighbours in Malachi's and Kilkerley. Some serious battles with them over the years.

Roche dream team

I went though this before. I didn’t play with many of our top lads in the early 2000s so big names like Gerry Craven, Martin McQuillan or Hog O’Neill aren’t here. But these lads were all players I played first-team football with in the blue and white.

Aidan McCoy; Declan McCoy, Kenny Gartlan, Duane Callan; Gerry Murphy, Dermot Craven, Brendan Callaghan; Dan O’Connell, David Quigley; Darren Sheils, Colm Callaghan, Barry O’Hare; Kevin Callaghan, Mickey Craven, Martin Craven.

Best player you played with

As I said above, I missed out on playing with some of the top lads in early 2000s, I trained with likes of Hog and Martin McQuillan and they were class but didn’t play enough... but I still played with some fantastic footballers. Likes of Dermy Craven, Barry O’Hare or Colm Callaghan were a pleasure to play with. But I will have to go with my mate Kevin 'Scally' Callaghan as the best. Just a natural talent with two good feet. Still going at 40 as well!

Dressing room joker

There was always plenty of banter flying about. Never was there one main man for the jokes or slagging, there were plenty joining in. Brendan Callaghan was one that always kept us going. Mad to get to the game at end of a training session and slagging anyone on the losing side.

Toughest opponent

My intermediate championship debut, I was making Pepe Smith from the Dreadnots. He was on the 40 and I was centre-half. I couldn’t get close to him and seen his heels for most of the game. I did not last the 60 minutes, unfortunately.

Your Roche in three words

Commitment, enjoyment, memories.