It's 17 years since Barney Rock managed Westmeath against his beloved Dublin in a Leinster SFC quarter-final at Pairc Tailteann.

Dublin, the then reigning All-Ireland champions, won by 10 points (1-18 to 0-11) and are being tipped by many to win by a similar margin when the counties renew their rivalry at the same stage of the championship in Croke Park tomorrow evening.

"It was a daunting task then, and it's a daunting task now," says Barney, whose son Dean is expected to feature at some stage against the Lake County.

"Football has come on a fair bit since then in terms of tactics, fitness and preparation. Things were only starting to take off for Westmeath when I went down there. They had just won an All-Ireland minor title (1995) and the seniors had done well under Mattie Kerrigan by winning promotion from Division 4 to 2 over the previous couple of years.

"But we were no match that day for Dublin who had a very experienced team. It was a big ask for someone who was making his championship debut as a manager! At the time, there was no backdoor in the championship which made it hard for the so-called weaker counties. It was straight knockout."

He continues: "The following year, we played four championship matches, which was very unusual for Westmeath back then. We drew with Wexford down in New Ross, beat them in the replay in Mullingar, drew with Offaly in Tullamore and lost the replay in Mullingar. We were four or five points up on Offaly the first day but let it slip and they went on to win the Leinster."

While his two years (1996 and '97) in charge of Westmeath failed to produce silverware, the Ballymun Kickhams and Dublin great has nothing but found memories of his time in the midlands. In his first year as manager, one of his selectors was Mullingar Shamrocks' Davy Gavin, whose son Kieran is the current Westmeath captain.

"There are a lot of good football people down there who I still keep in touch with to this day," he explains.

"Dean, who was only five or six at the time, used to come with me to a lot of the training sessions. He was always interested in football, always kicking a ball in the back garden. Maybe he picked up a few tips at some of those training sessions!

"Davy Gavin was one of my selectors in the first year (Ned Moore was the other), and it's crazy to think that our sons could be playing against each other on Saturday. I can't quite recall, but they were probably kicking a ball to each other on the sideline all those years ago.

"They've got to know each other really well in recent years from playing together for DCU. They won Sigerson Cup and O'Byrne Cup medals last year and young Gavin was the captain."

While Barney expects Dublin to live up to their favourites' status and take another step towards securing their eighth Delaney Cup in nine years, he isn't writing off the Lake County's chances.

"I believe Dublin will win it, but Westmeath have beaten them twice in big games (the 2004 Leinster SFC quarter-final and the 2008 Allianz League Division 2 final) in the last 10 years and won't hold any fears.

"If Westmeath come out of it two or three points on the wrong side, they will take a lot of positives going into the qualifiers. They are in an ideal position in the sense that nobody is giving them a chance, they got a game in Croke Park in the Division 2 final a month ago and they ran up 3-15 against Carlow in the first round. Pat Flanagan is getting the bond right and has some very good young players in his side.

"As one of only three Leinster teams in Division 1 next year, Westmeath have the potential to set the championship alight. But for them to have any chance against Dublin, Dessie Dolan or someone will need to stick the ball in the net a couple of times.

"If Westmeath can hang in there, it will be anyone's game in the last 10 minutes. Fitness-wise I don't think there will be much in it, but Dublin are physically stronger and are five years ahead of a lot of teams in that regard. If the game was in Navan or some other provincial ground, Westmeath would have a better chance than in Croke Park where Dublin have already played seven games this year and are very comfortable."

The embarrassment of riches at manager Jim Gavin's disposal leads the 1983 All-Ireland winner to think Dublin will be there or thereabouts when the Sam Maguire Cup is handed out later in the year.

"Regardless of what happens on Saturday, I would still fancy them to be in the shake-up come August and September," Barney confidently predicts.

"When I was playing, you always knew your first 16 or 17 players. Now Jim Gavin would be doing well to know his first 26. There is fierce competition for places, which has come from all the underage success Dublin have had, and which makes it harder for the likes of Dean to get his place.

"I really hope that Westmeath can make a game of it because Dublin need all the tough games they can get for later in the championship. They scored a lot in the league, but also conceded a lot and need to tighten up at the back.

"Under Pat Gilroy, they were slow starters in the championship and I can remember them being very lucky to get over Wexford a couple of times. They had a good league and will be hoping to pick up from where they left off against Tyrone in the final."

Jim Gavin showed in the Allianz League final that reputations don't mean anything to him by hauling off star forward Bernard Brogan with 12 minutes to go, and Barney expects the Round Tower clubman to be equally as ruthless tomorrow if players aren't on their game.

"It's a big day for Jim. It's his first championship match as Dublin manager, he'll have his game plan set out, but he can't do anymore once the players cross that white line.

"It's an interesting game. If anyone is lackadaisical, Jim will have no qualms in taking off two or three players in the first 20 minutes. If changes are needed, he won't hang around"

Now 52 and working as an accounts manager for office furniture supplies company Bryan S Ryan, Rock was a darling of the Hill for much of the 1980s. He wore the famous sky blue jersey from 1980 to '91, during which he won one All-Ireland, one National League and four Leinster SFC medals. The legendary forward and free-taker also collected three All Star awards and represented his country against Australia in the Compromise Rules series.

Since his spell in charge of Westmeath, he has managed a number of club teams, including Celbridge who he guided to their first Kildare SFC success in 2008. Last year he managed top Meath club, Skryne.

Barney's son Dean has followed in his footsteps by lining out for Ballymun Kickhams and Dublin. An All-Ireland U21 medallist in 2010, Dean has already had a busy year that has seen him play in the AIB All-Ireland club final for Ballymun against St. Brigid's of Roscommon, and come on to score two late points for Dublin in their Allianz League final victory over Tyrone on April 28 last. Tweet

Most Read Stories