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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dean Rock: Win over Armagh will make Dublin 'massive All-Ireland contenders'
A victory for Dublin over All-Ireland champions Armagh in Croke Park on Sunday will make them 'massive All-Ireland contenders', says Dean Rock. Both teams are coming off All-Ireland SFC Round 1 victories and Dublin's all-time record scorer Rock believes Dublin will be in the top three should they back up their win over Galway in Pearse Stadium last Saturday week. 'Galway would never have been a team that Dublin would have feared, particularly in recent years. Of course, they had the win last year but Dublin's record over Galway has been quite good and a lot of those players would have played against Galway quite regularly. 'I was quite confident that they would go down there and get a result. But the big thing for Dublin is consistency this year, so that would be the big question mark going into the Armagh game. If Dublin were to back that up with another win, then you're really thinking of Dublin as massive, massive All-Ireland contenders." Eight-time All-Ireland SFC winner Rock imagines Armagh will embrace returning to GAA HQ having won there three times last summer. 'Coming back to Croke Park is a great opportunity for them to really cement their stamp on things and acknowledge themselves as being All-Ireland champions. If they go up to Croke Park and beat Dublin, it'd be a big statement for them. 'In many ways, it's very strange for All-Ireland champions to be completely written off, or not really talked about as in the top maybe three or four teams. They're kind of maybe just a little bit outside that in many people's eyes, but their squad has probably developed a little bit throughout the league as well.' It's 10 years since the infamous Armagh-Dublin challenge game in DCU, in which Rock's Ballymun Kickhams club-mate Davy Byrne received a broken nose following an altercation with an opponent. Both teams received €6,500 fines and then GAA director general Páraic Duffy criticised them for their omerta as the Central Competitions Control Committee tried unsuccessfully to get to the bottom of the matter. Rock wasn't involved in the game but was there and heard the ruckus before he saw it. 'We had played a couple of days previous in the Leinster final. We had guys who didn't get enough minutes and squad players who were identified to play that game. 'I was doing some frees and we were doing some small bit of a skill session at the time, and then there were a few roars, and then a jog and a sprint up to see what was going on.' Both managers Jim Gavin and Kieran McGeeney attempted to draw a line under the incident. Practice games between the counties have become more regular since McGeeney's former Na Fianna team-mate Dessie Farrell took over Dublin. 'In the last couple of years, there could have been six, seven challenge matches against Armagh,' Rock reports. 'So, there would be a lot of familiarity there and understanding with each other. There has been probably kind of a healthy rivalry in many ways built up, not in competitive games, but off the field and different things.' Rock hails his close friend Ciarán Kilkenny's display in Salthill as one of his finest for the county. "It was probably up there with his 2019 All-Ireland final replay performance. That's probably been one of his better games since then. 'Ciarán would have a lot of family in Galway as well and he has probably always played well against Galway. There are always certain teams that you really play well against and there's extra meaning behind that as well with close family down there and close ties. 'He would obviously have been hugely disappointed with the Meath game and the question marks that were out there about the team and maybe even him himself. He was immense and it was more just his work-rate off the ball in terms of identifying danger and doubling up on Shane Walsh a couple of times. 'He was actually on Paul Conroy for large periods of it and I don't think Paul Conroy really got a kick of the ball. He's [Kilkenny] a fantastic player and it just goes to show there's still plenty of football left in him." Analysing the new rules, Rock likes a lot of them but has reservations for the punishment for a foul after a kick-out mark and believes the two-point free is 'a bit generous'. He says: 'I don't think a lot of the fouls warrant two-points if it makes sense.' *Dean Rock was promoting EirGrid's 'Community Heroes' campaign. Ireland's national grid operator is shining a spotlight on the volunteers who power the GAA community across the country.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Dean Rock reveals Dublin's two biggest foes in ‘most evenly contested All-Ireland in recent memory' if they beat Armagh
PREDICTING a winner in the Sam Maguire race is more difficult than it has been for years, according to Dean Rock. But the eight-time All-Ireland winner reckons a victory over Armagh this weekend will solidify Dublin's place among a trio of front-runners to land the game's biggest prize on July 27. 2 Dublin beat Galway to bounce back from losing in Leinster SFC Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 2 Dean Rock, former Dublin footballer, pictured at the launch of EirGrid's Community Heroes campaign at Ballymun Kickhams GAA Club in Dublin Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile There were fears in the capital that the glory days had come to an end when they suffered a shock Leinster SFC semi-final loss to Meath. Nevertheless, the Championship last summer . Despite the ending of their 15-year unbeaten streak on the provincial stage, Rock , 35, was not overly concerned about the potential of his former team-mates to recover. The ex-Dublin forward, who Read More on GAA 'Naturally I knew there'd be a massive response from the Meath game and they'd have learned a huge amount from it, in terms of the kickouts and just not letting a team get as big a run on you like Meath did, particularly in that first half. 'All the things coming out of the camp were that players were returning from injury, they'd learned a huge amount from the game and it was all kind of set up for them to really upset Galway in many ways. 'Galway would never have been a team that Dublin would have feared, particularly in recent years. 'Of course they had the win last year, but Dublin's record over Galway has been quite good and a lot of those players would have played against Galway quite regularly. Most read in GAA Football 'I was quite confident that they'd go down there and get a result. But the big thing for Dublin is consistency this year, so that would be the big question mark going into the Armagh game. 'If Dublin were to back that up with another win then you're really thinking of Dublin as massive, massive All-Ireland contenders.' Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - Rock expects a strong challenge from a And his belief in Donegal's ability to go all the way was also not entirely eroded by Asked about Dublin's chances of being the last men standing for the tenth time in 15 seasons, Rock continued: 'If they back it up with a win, I think absolutely it's themselves, Kerry and 'Obviously there are question marks over Donegal after last weekend, but if Dublin were to win this weekend I think they'd be the top three in my eyes.' REACHING THEIR PEAK While he places Armagh slightly further down the pecking order, Rock warned that the reigning champions have yet to peak. He said: 'There's plenty of evidence so far this year that the new rules suit what they're all about and I'm sure they're saving up their best for Championship. 'When you win an All-Ireland, you get that bit of confidence about yourself and you're kind of not afraid of the big games any more. 'You relish the challenge of playing in the All-Ireland series and I think Armagh got a huge monkey off their back last year in actually just winning the All-Ireland. 'I think you'll start to see the best of those players from now. Coming back to 'If they go up to Croke Park and beat Dublin, it'd be a big statement for them. 'In many ways, it's very strange for All-Ireland champions to be completely written off or not really talked about as in the top maybe three or four teams. 'They're kind of maybe just a little bit outside that in many people's eyes, but their squad has probably developed a little bit throughout the league as well. 'They've got plenty of options and a huge amount of pace up front. They have a lot going for them and I'd expect to see the best of them in the next couple of weeks.' 'It's the most evenly contested All-Ireland probably in recent memory. There are so many teams who have the potential to win it." A sense of novelty will be attached to the Group 4 fixture on Sunday at Croke Park as it will mark the first Championship clash of Dublin and Armagh since the Sky Blues won a qualifier in 2010. Several league games, such as the Orchard's victory back in March, have been contested since. The sides, managed by former Na Fianna team-mates Dessie Farrell and Kieran McGeeney, have crossed paths regularly on the challenge-match circuit too. One of those encounters was a source of considerable controversy in 2015, when a fracas caused Dubs defender Davy Byrne to be hospitalised with facial injuries. But Rock insisted: 'In the last couple of years, there could have been six, seven challenge matches against Armagh so there would be a lot of familiarity there and understanding with each other. 'There has been probably kind of a healthy rivalry in many ways built up, not in competitive games but off the field and different things. That's just the relationship with Dessie and Kieran.' OPEN FIELD As for the identity of this year's All-Ireland winners, Rock will not be too surprised if there are new entries in his ranking of the leading contenders as the Championship gradually reaches a climax. The three-time All-Star added: 'Arguably seven or eight teams on any given day could all beat each other. 'It's the most evenly contested All-Ireland probably in recent memory. There are so many teams who have the potential to win it. 'Even at this stage last year, you were probably only looking at Dublin, Donegal, Kerry. I don't think anyone would have seen maybe Armagh or Galway being an eventual winner. 'But this year in particular, there are so many teams that can win it. 'Even Tyrone now are massively back in the mix. 'Mayo may have slipped but Mayo being Mayo, they could go and get a result this weekend, you just don't know. 'But that's how I'd see it. It's just kind of on any given day and whoever gets momentum at the right time will ultimately become All-Ireland champions. 'It makes for an exciting couple of weeks.' l DEAN ROCK was speaking at the launch of EirGrid's 'Community Heroes' campaign at Ballymun Kickhams GAA club. EirGrid, Ireland's national grid operator, is shining a spotlight on the volunteers who power the GAA community in Ireland
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Dean Rock hails Ger Brennan for bringing Louth ‘back to the pinnacle' as he credits former team-mate for his ‘sacrifice'
DUBLIN legend Dean Rock has paid tribute to Louth boss Ger Brennan after he guided the Wee County to a long-awaited Leinster SFC breakthrough. Speaking on 2 Dublin icon Dean Rock hailed his former team-mmate for his success with Louth Credit: rte sport 2 Louth manager Ger Brennan celebrates after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match against Meath The comes after they finally got over the line once again in a Leinster SFC final after their win over It was the their And Dublin icon Rock says that his former Sky Blue team-mate has impressed since taking over following Mickey Harte's surprise departure two years ago. Louth defeated Dublin in the Leinster semi before yesterday's triumph over Meath at GAA HQ. read more on gaa Speaking He said: "I can only imagine the time, sacrifice and energy he's put into Louth football over the last two years. "From the outside looking in, when he took over the job - replacing Mickey Harte. It was one that people wondered how much further Louth could go. "To be fair to him, he's improved this Louth team hugely. They've gone from being the second best team in Leinster to being the best team in Leinster. "He deserves a huge amount of credit [but] he'd be quite humble in trying to pass on the credit to the players and the support team around him. "But he himself deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing Louth back to the pinnacle." Gardai investigating as GAA fans engage in brawl in shop For Rock - who picked up eight All-Ireland medals alongside his 12 Leinster titles with Dublin - Louth's breakthrough doesn't look like a one-off. The Ballymun Kickhams' ace pointed towards Louth's success at underage level. He added: "They're developing a really strong culture in Louth and that's been reflected in the success of the U17, U20 - and now the senior team."
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Dean Rock: Louth's Leinster victory was no flash in the pan
Dean Rock says he expects Louth to be competitive for the foreseeable future after the county landed their first Leinster title in 68 years. The Wee County built a famous triumph on first-half goals, and finished it by hitting the final three points of the game to see off Meath at Croke Park. It comes off the back of their Under-20s claiming a first title at the grade in 44 years, while the county's minors are also in provincial final action next week against Offaly. For Rock, who added eight Celtic Crosses to his 12 Leinster medals during his inter-county career with Dublin, it's not going to be a flash in the pan for Louth. "They're developing a really strong culture in Louth and that's been reflected in the success of the U17, U20 and now the senior team," Rock said on The Sunday Game. "As the senior team, you try to set the example for the future generations. That's what they've done over the last couple of years, they've reached the Leinster final three years in a row now. "That's helped inspire the U17s and the U20s so it's really positive from a Louth GAA perspective. "It takes a lot of good people to get to that stage. That's what Ger Brennan has referred to in terms of the clubs. They're a football-mad county and they've got incredible facilities up there. "They're reaping the benefits now but I think they're going to be around for a long time - that's where they're at now between the 17s and 20s." "He deserves a huge amount of credit" Dean Rock highlights Ger Brennan's impact in getting Louth over the line in their long-awaited quest to clinch a Leinster SFC title 📺Watch the #SundayGame live - — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025 Rock played together with Brennan towards the end of the current Louth manager's career with the Dubs. Both of them were on the field in 2013 when the Sky Blues saw off Mayo in the All-Ireland final. And Rock says that his former Dublin team-mate has impressed in taking over in the Wee County following Mickey Harte's surprise departure two years ago. "I can only imagine the time, sacrifice and energy he's put into Louth football over the last two years. "From the outside looking in, when he took over the job - replacing Mickey Harte - it was one that people wondered how much further Louth could go. "To be fair to him, he's improved this Louth team hugely. They've gone from being the second best team in Leinster to being the best team in Leinster. "He deserves a huge amount of credit [but] he'd be quite humble in trying to pass on the credit to the players and the support team around him, but he himself deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing Louth back to the pinnacle."
