Along with his tactical nous, Mayo's Stephen Rochford seems determined to enhance his own sense of importance ahead of the All-Ireland Football final.
Have to hand it Rochford, got the tactics spot on!!
— Michael Burke (@michaelcburke93) August 26, 2017
In a repeat of last year's final pairing, Mayo are now faced with the challenge of halting Dublin's attempts at three in a row; as if two in a row wasn't bad enough.
Anticipating the difficulties ahead, Rochford seems to have been paying close attention to his contemporaries in football's alternative coding.
On the topic of the referee for the final, Rochford told the Irish Miror:
I suppose you're expecting somebody who will be able to take control of a really big game, gets the calls right, an experienced referee.
It's something that's outside our control ... but look, it is important that the best man for the job gets it.
With last year's final(s) - and Lee Keegan's black card particularly - still a bone of contention for the defiant Rochford, he is insistent that,
When it comes down to very tight games, a decision can have a big effect on how the game can be played out and, you know, we saw that in a case last year even.
Although Rochford is absolutely correct in most of what he has said regarding the match officials, his timing is curious.
In saying something and nothing, it will be interesting to see what reaction - if any - these latest comments may inspire from Dublin's Jim Gavin.
