Curran hoping Ballymun can kick on

Paul Curran is optimistic Ballymun Kickhams’ season will go from strength-to-strength following their Dublin SFC success against Kilmacud Crokes last Monday night.

Curran, who has guided his side to 20 consecutive victories in both league and championship this year, is hopeful of a prolonged provincial campaign with Kickhams facing Westmeath champions Mullingar Shamrocks in their AIB Leinster Club Championship tie on Sunday week.

“It’s a big honour for us to be representing Dublin and we’ll prepare as well for Leinster as we did for the Dublin championship.

“We’ll enjoy this success for a day or two but then it is back to the training field and planning how we’ll approach the Mullingar game.

“It is going to be difficult having to play them in their own back yard. They beat the current Leinster champions, Garrycastle, and they showed a lot to beat them in a replay so we know what to expect. But we’ll look forward to it”, said Curran.

If Kickhams are to follow in the footsteps of recent winners St Vincent’s and Kilmacud Crokes, who built on Dublin successes to claim national honours, then the form of full-forward Dean Rock, who hit seven points in the final, will be key in that respect.

Rock himself said he’s happy with his form which he hopes will bring him into the county team.

“Some managers will like you, some managers won’t,” reasoned Rock, who was dropped from the Dublin panel by former boss Pat Gilroy in May.

“That’s just the way it is. It’s 2012 now, we’re moving into 2013. It’s a new year for me and a new year for Dublin so hopefully it will go well.

“The way I see it, it’s an open slate with the Dublin senior team. There are lots of lads that will have impressed Jim, and Jim is a good man, he gives everyone a fair crack of the whip. I worked with Jim for three years at U21 level. I’m sure if he’s interested in me he will give me a call. The club is the main thing now.”

Curran described it as a ‘no brainer’ that Gavin would call Rock up to his panel for 2013.

“We have been saying that he (Rock) should be with Dublin,” continued Curran. “Some lads on the Dublin panel last year were, with all due respect, not in the same league as Dean.”

Naturally, the former Thomas Davis player was effusive in his praise for his entire panel and the attitude and commitment they displayed all year.

“Our backs were against the wall in the second-half on Monday but we have a terrific bunch here. They are so committed but they are also a very talented group. We were calm coming into the final although we were playing the best team in the county over the last 15 years. It’s a massive result for us, massive”, said the 1995 All-Ireland winner.