Dublin's Dean Rock is hoping for some family fortunes with double helping of All-Ireland glory

All-Ireland SFC Final

Dublin’s Dean Rock

�INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Niamh McEvoy

�INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Dublin’s Dean Rock

Declan Bogue Twitter

December 19 2020 10:40 AM

Speak to most players preparing for an All-Ireland final and they broadly hold the same beliefs; that it is important to take your mind off it and surround yourself with those who have no interest.

But that's not a luxury available to Dean Rock.

His girlfriend Niamh McEvoy is also chasing an All-Ireland title, with the Dublin ladies tomorrow when they meet Cork in the senior final.

"I suppose the great thing is we've great experience of it over the last number of years," said Rock. "This is Niamh's… however number of finals in a row. And for ourselves as well.

"Obviously we would talk about it quite a lot because it's at the forefront of your mind. It's very hard to get away from that. But we have our own routines away from football.

"We have certain things to take our minds off football but lucky enough for us it's been part and parcel of our lives. It's hugely exciting for Niamh and our families."

Rock goes into the game as the leading Dublin scorer with 1-22 gathered to date, 0-14 from frees and two '45s'. He is without doubt the greatest freetaker operating in the game today and it is remarkable to think how hard he had to work on his game to even become a regular starter with Dublin. Three more points will move him above Paraic Joyce to fifth in the all-time scoring list.

"There would have been times when you really doubted yourself. I remember getting dropped off the Dublin panel in 2012," he recalled. "Chelsea were playing Bayern Munich in the Champions League final and I got a phone call from Pat Gilroy saying I was dropped. I probably thought he was going to say I was playing against Wexford in the Championship.

"It just transpired that for whatever reason, I wasn't deemed good enough at the time. I remember the next day going down to Garristown, where I live, running and running for hours until my dad had to come down and pick me up.

"So I think it was just that resilience piece that you need as a sportsperson.

"You're going to have your setbacks. I certainly had them and I could easily have packed it in and walked away.

"But I made a promise to myself that I was going to do what I could.

"Luckily enough the club came to the rescue for me that year. We won the Club Championship and that set me up for when Jim (Gavin) came in in 2013. So yeah, I suppose from there, I never looked back."

Dublin's Dean Rock is hoping for some family fortunes with double helping of All-Ireland glory

All-Ireland SFC Final

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