Rochford returns to inter-county arena

HOME AWAY FROM HOME Former Mayo manager Stephen Rochford is pictured setting out cones at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey in Co Donegal earlier this year. Pic: Sportsfile

Column
Billy Joe Padden

I THINK the news that Stephen Rochford is going to Donegal as a coach/selector alongside Declan Bonner took all of us by surprise last week.
I think it sends a signal to all of us that he’s still extremely motivated to achieve at the highest level of Gaelic football.
The fact he’s going to be spending most of his time coaching with Donegal is interesting too. With Mayo, as manager, he had to deal with so many things that he just won’t have to as Donegal coach.
I think it’s fair to say that most people get into management of football teams because they get enjoyment from the actual coaching of players, and trying to improve them from session to session.
I’m sure it was the same for Rochford, and I’d say getting back to working players at every training session, like he did with Corofin, will probably re-energise him again.
So will the fact that he is now working with another group of very talented and highly-motivated players, just like Mayo.
This is a great opportunity for him to learn and it’s a positive development for Mayo people because you always want to see one of our own working at the highest level.
Another aspect of Rochford joining the Donegal set-up, when you take a step back, is that Declan Bonner obviously feels that he can add something to the management team.
And why wouldn’t they? When you look at what he achieved with Mayo, especially in his first two seasons, you can see that he did so much right.
The knowledge that Stephen Rochford brings of Connacht teams, and of playing and setting up against Kerry and Dublin, shouldn’t be underestimated either.
They’re things that Bonner will tap into hugely next season, especially with Donegal looking to develop into being a genuine All-Ireland contender again.
That sort of knowledge and experience, of getting teams to play very effective football against the likes of Kerry and Dublin, will be very beneficial to the Donegal players.
There’s no doubt in my mind, that when you reflect back on Rochford’s time as Mayo manager, he always got the team to produce big performances against Kerry and Dublin in the championship.
It was actually Galway who became his bogey team.
Now Donegal and Declan Bonner have given him an opportunity to write another entry in his management and coaching CV, and all we can do is wish him luck.
And remind ourselves that, despite the disappointing results against Galway and Kildare this summer, Stephen Rochford had some very good days with Mayo in 2016 and 2017.