Mayo selector Stephen Rochford. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Training teams is what Stephen Rochford relishes. Whether manager, coach, assistant or selector - the title doesn't matter. Getting players ready for battle is what Rochford enjoys.
Another Connacht SFC is about to start. On Sunday, at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Rochford will be involved on the line, assisting Kevin McStay as Mayo host Sligo.
Senior inter-county football is where Rochford, who flared to prominence with Corofin, operates now. “This will be the tenth year, and three with Corofin, it’s all showing in my hair," Rochford laughs.
"But it’s what you like, it’s what you enjoy. What has Mickey Harte done? 30 years maybe between minors and Errigal Ciaráin, and I don’t think it’s done him any harm. We’ll take the next couple of weeks and see how that goes.”
Does Rochford think there is less pressure when not managing? “I don’t think so," Rochford responds.
"Obviously, you’re not the front face. You don’t have to stand in front of the likes of the media or that. But you’re dead right, once you’re invested in a group, you hurt the same in defeat; you enjoy the games as much in victory.
"We understand, though, that a lot of work goes into those games, whether the result goes your way or not. It’s certainly no less pressure, and you don’t enjoy it any less not being the manager either.”
Is Rochford motivated by a Connacht title? “I wouldn’t say that’s a sole motivation," he replies.
Stephen Rochford and Kevin McStay pictured during Mayo's Allianz Football League game against Tyrone. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"But when you’re involved with any team, you take every competition on its own merits. We were in a Connacht final last year; we would have felt that we put ourselves obviously in a really good position to have won that game.
"That didn’t materialise. We go into this year’s championship with a focus of beating Sligo, and hopefully getting ourselves into the semi-final and then we’ll look to prepare.
"If we’re good enough to get into it, we’ll take it and that leads to a Connacht final, we’ll prepare for that. But the competitive element of the different competitions allows you not to get too ahead of yourself.
"In that regard, personal motivation doesn’t get ahead of what’s needed for the group, and what’s needed for the group is a focus on Sligo.”
Rochford respects the work being carried out in Sligo recently at every level. “They probably had a similar start to the league as ourselves," Rochford says.
"I think their performance against Offaly in the first game probably wasn’t fully reflective in the margin of loss; I think they were quite competitive up until maybe the final quarter, and you see where Offaly have gone.
“Their form is very, very solid. Four results on the bounce. A big one against Clare; a big one against Fermanagh. And probably against Fermanagh, I’d say they probably feel that they left a point behind.
"So, we’re acutely aware of the threats and the quality that are in that Sligo group. Coolera-Strandhill’s push in the club championship is another indicator of where Sligo are, plus their U20s over the last couple of years. So, all of that – and moments away from beating Galway last year – we’re not blind by what the challenge will be in front of us."
