Dean Rock, former Dublin footballer, pictured at the launch of EirGrid’s ‘Community Heroes’ campaign at Ballymun Kickhams GAA Club in Dublin. EirGrid, Ireland’s national grid operator, is shining a spotlight on the volunteers who power the GAA community across the country. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
"The first year was probably challenging," Dean Rock reflects on retiring at the start of 2024.
The previous July, a late Rock point helped to seal a cherished All-Ireland win for Dublin over Kerry at Croke Park. "I was probably the only one to retire, I thought a few more of the lads would've went with me at the time," Rock reflects. "That was probably challenging in many ways.
The 2024 All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final loss to Galway proved to be the last act for several distinguished and decorated Dublin footballers. Rock, though, has kept busy with Ballymun Kickhams, trying to find the right balance between sport, work, and family commitments. "I really enjoyed going back to the club," Rock says.
"I just tried to take a huge responsibility there, in trying to drive things, to educate fellas. Naturally enough, you get more time to focus on your working career and family life, it is all the clichéd stuff, but you certainly do. You fill up your time more with things that become a little bit more meaningful."
Rock chuckles about the chaos of it all. "When you step away, you realise how little other people do maybe care about it, in many ways, Gaelic Football," Rock says. "When you're in that bubble, you're obsessed, you're so paranoid, you think everybody is talking about it.
"You think the fella walking by you in the street is talking about the game, but realistically you've so many games nowadays, it is hard for people to keep up with everything.
"As an inter-county footballer you can make yourself paranoid, when realistically you could relax a little bit more during your career. We just never allowed ourselves to get to that stage."
Did Rock initially find it difficult to attend Dublin matches? "The only game I went to was the Galway game, that wasn't great," he says. "I didn't actually go to many games, I just didn't have the time or the appetite.
"I watched every game, absolutely, but it was more just a case I didn't bother going in because there were so many games. If I went in to watch one, you'd miss the hurling on TV or the next game."
Switching full sporting focus to Ballymun Kickhams was important. "I think at times that the club lads were looking at me with two or three heads about certain things I was asking them or expecting things off them," Rock says.
"When you've been exposed to a winning environment that I was lucky to be exposed to throughout my career, you learn lots of valuable things that you can implement with your club.
Dean Rock in action for Ballymun Kickhams in the 2024 Dublin SFC. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
"So, that is what we're trying to do with Ballymun Kickhams. We're a tiny club, very, very small with a small amount of senior players. We're just trying to get the most out of them individually.
"That is the main thing really. I enjoyed the transition, it was far more challenging because with an inter-county set-up you don't need to motivate, you don't need to mammy or watch what guys are doing in many ways.
"You've to do that to a certain degree with club stuff, but it has been enjoyable. I've James McCarthy now this year, so I can pass on the load to him, a little bit."
The McCarthy and Rock families have been central figures in the Kickhams and Dublin stories. Ballymun Kickhams' contribution to Dublin football shouldn't be underestimated. "We've certainly punched above our weight," Rock replies.
"Our club has an incredible history, I think the second most All-Ireland (medals) of any club in the country bar maybe Austin Stacks or one of the clubs in Kerry, similar enough with All-Stars.
"So, the club has a massive tradition and history for a club of its size. That is all testament to the hard work of all of the coaches down through the years and family members and different things."
Rock appreciates the value of a close knit Kickhams community. "Our club lives off past players sons and daughters represented the club as opposed to an influx of new builds in the locality," he adds. "That is what we rely on, which is good too.
"Being a small club gives you greater exposure to players, kids, and coaches. In the big clubs they mightn't get so much hands on coaching and training. That is probably what helped our development growing up. Being small has its advantages in many ways."
Former Laois player Greg Ramsbottom and ex Dublin star Ian Robertson are involved as the Ballymun management. Rock remains hopeful that Ballymun can make an impact in the capital. "We played Cuala in the semi-final last year, that is probably as far as we deserved to go," he says.
"They beat us by four or five points in the semi-final, and they obviously went on to win the All-Ireland.
"Lots of good things are going on, we're punching above our weight. We're certainly not without a chance this year, and that is what we will be focusing on."
