Stephen Rochford not fazed by critics
Obviously, it’s tenuous to claim Rochford enjoys superiority over his opposite number on Sunday when he has yet to guide the team to silverware but it’s not such a shabby return for a manager who admits his start at the helm was a chastening one.
An opening league defeat in Cork by nine points was followed by a loss at home to Dublin and again in Ballybofey. In the wake of the players’ revolt against Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes, the threat of relegation was pinned on them, but Rochford also felt that pressure. There was never going to be a honeymoon period. He’ll have learned quick enough the parameters by which observers judged him regularly shifted.
