Dublin footballer Niall Scully poses for a portrait during a promotional launch event for the Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup Final at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin, ahead of Saturday's final between Dublin and Longford. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Dublin footballer, Niall Scully, says Dean Rock’s decision to retire from inter-county football is ‘a huge loss’ for the reigning All-Ireland senior football champions.
Rock, Dublin’s all-time record points scorer, announced his retirement earlier this week after a glittering career that saw him win eight All-Ireland Senior Football titles, twelve Leinster SFC titles, six National Football League winners medals, one U21 All-Ireland title, 2 U21 Leinster winners medals, and three All-Stars.
“Deano as a team-mate and a player was what you'd aspire to be,” said Scully. “If anyone would ask who you'd want on the pitch for the last five minutes of the match, Dean Rock definitely would be up there.
“And even in terms of a person when I was coming on to the panel he'd always be the one who'd be looking after the younger lads. He had no problem giving advice, even with his free-kicks with Cossie. He was always passing on information.
“He'll be a huge loss in the dressing-room, but, again, he's had a great career for himself so he'll enjoy the break.”
Rock scored 24 goals and 591 points in 132 championship and League games for Dublin and will always be remembered as one of the greatest dead-ball kickers in the history of the game, but Scully is keen to emphasise just how influential he was in open play too.
“He was incredibly smart,” said Scully. “We'd always be saying, 'Deano on the loop'. He'd just be casually moving along and then there would be a swift run around the ball carrier on the loop and a slot-shot.
“I think people always remember Dean for the 2017 (All-Ireland Final) kick, but I'd remember him for the Kerry equaliser (2019 drawn All-Ireland Final), that's how I would have saw him and how most of the lads would have saw him.
“The free-kicks were kind of just an addition to what he could do. Even in terms of a goal-scorer, always in big games he'd be at the end of a goal.
“His movement was incredible and, I think, his bravery and the courage he showed throughout the time he played for Dublin, he never shied away from a shot and was always the man you'd give the ball to in the last couple of minutes of any big game.
“I'd aways be running up the pitch and heading towards him knowing he'd come on the loop for one of them shots.”
Niall Scully, left, and Dean Rock of Dublin during the 2017 Allianz Football League Division 1 Round 4 match between Dublin and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Rock will be missed, but Scully expects some of the younger forwards in the panel to step up and fill the void left by his departure.
“Since I've come for three or four years we had a period where nobody had left. And now we kinda have seen it (players retiring).
“It's obviously upsetting to see people go, but, again, it's an opportunity for somebody else to step up into the team. But then you also see the personalities of different individuals as they're there a bit longer, the different personalities come through in the squad.
“Not that you're forgotten about in six weeks time, but it's a case of the train continues to move. And, again, like that, it's just an opportunity for somebody else to take the reins.”
Those fringe players will have an opportunity to impress in Saturday’s Dioralyte O’Byrne Cup Final against Longford.
Scully is one of the few established Dublin players that has featured in this year’s competition as he works on his fitness after two months of travelling, and he’s been impressed by the ability shown by the new faces.
“Yeah, absolutely," says Scully. "In fairness the last day I thought a lot of them went really well. The first day out you probably saw a bit of nerves. And then the last day out I thought everybody was comfortable on the pitch, comfortable on the ball.
“As always we're going to need a couple of them to progress into the squad this year so we can build on what we had last year and, again, that keeps the competitiveness and freshness up in the squad.”
The O’Byrne Cup mightn’t be a huge priority for Dublin, but it’s a competition that Scully appreciates because it was the launch-pad for his first League and championship campaign in 2017 and he believes it can do similar for other up and coming Dublin players this year.
“In the broader scheme of things it’s not going to be something at the end of a year or the end of your career you’re going to look towards,” he says.
“But for me, it’s been a huge platform for me to progress in my own Dublin career.
“I played well in all the games and the confidence that that gave me going into the League game against Cavan (in 2017).
“If I had have had a few dips or whatever I would have been going into the Cavan game second guessing myself.
“But because I had kind of performed consistently good in the three or four games that were there, I was fairly comfortable playing the first round of the National League.
“And like that there are going to be two or three players that are in the same boat and are probably going to see National League time.
“Like that, it’s just a great platform for them to come through and even put their hand up towards Dessie and play well.”
Saturday, January 20
Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup Final
Dublin v Longford, O'Moore Park, 3pm (TG4)
