Relaxed Dean Rock carries his dead ball duties lightly

Dean Rock spent much of his teenage years kicking goals for Catholic University School’s Junior and Senior Cup rugby teams but no-one had to look very far even then for evidence of his GAA background or signs as to his future sporting path.

It’s not that rugby didn’t beguile him. Jonny Wilkinson was one of his idols growing up and Rock based much of his training on the approach of the famously obsessive England out-half. He would look on in awe at the elaborate technique he employed over dead balls.

Yet that attention to detail never stretched to using a kicking tee for conversions or penalties. Yep, for all Rock’s preparation and commitment, he would simply identify a suitable tuft of grass on which to prop the ball before popping it over the bar.