Corofin tradition driving success, says Stephen Rochford
Monday 11 March 2019 12:11, UK
With Corofin gunning for a third All-Ireland title in five years when they face Dr Crokes on Sunday, former manager Stephen Rochford describes what makes the Galway club tick.
"They've got a tradition now going back to '98," explained the Donegal selector. "They've got a real sense of want, players aspire to be part of the senior team.
"There's huge pride in what they do, and they do that very well. They take pride in where they come from in a way of representing the locality. They're all great values that make them a great club, but also a high-quality team in this moment."
Corofin won their first All-Ireland title in 1998, but had to wait until 2015 to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand once again when Rochford guided them back to the pinnacle of club football.
However, the Mayo native was reluctant to take all the credit for the Andy Merrigan triumph four years ago.
"Building [a winning culture] isn't the responsibility or result of any one person," he reflected. "It's the collective. I think, what I would have seen in Corofin, there was a number of leaders within that set-up that had high standards that they wanted to reach.
"A number of those guys would have intercounty experience and would have replicated that and lifted everybody's qualities. As a management team there, we had high standards and values and ambitions of where we wanted to bring the group.
"Those elements along with the natural quality and skill levels they had. All those facets coming together allow for a really good foundation to be laid and built on over the last number of years."
Rochford won't rule out Mayo return
The Galway club have kicked on since Rochford's departure, and won another All-Ireland title 12 months ago. They now prepare to take on 2017 champions Dr Crokes.
The clash of the two most recent champions promises to be a nail-biter.
"I think it certainly has the potential to be the highest quality of finals in a long time," opined Rochford.
"I don't see more than a score being in it, certainly no more than a three-point margin.
"It's going to be really tight. For me, it's going to be the defence that wins the game. The two forward lines are of very very high potential. There's a lot of slick, quality pacey two-footed footballers playing on both those teams. Then you look at, probably in Crokes you have potentially Colm Cooper's experience to come off the bench if he doesn't start. May that be a deciding factor for them? Maybe it will.
"I know my own loyalties will bring me back to knowing what Corofin can bring to the table. But it's going to be fascinating on the sideline and out on the pitch as well."
