Dean Rock has admitted that there were times when he didn't think he'd make the breakthrough for Dublin at senior level.

Rock kicked the winning point in the Dubs' All-Ireland victory over Mayo this past September, sealing a sweet three-in-a-row success for Jim Gavin's charges.

Speaking to the Irish Independent this week, the Ballymun Kickhams marksman revealed that after missing out on his county's first All-Ireland victory in 16 years in 2011, he was going to grab his chance "with both hands" when it came his way two years later.

"I had stints in the Dublin team… I was down in 2009 when Kerry beat us, I was on the bench that day. And then 2010 I was on the panel and then I was gone. And then in 2012 I was dropped from the panel," Rock stated.

"So yeah, there were obviously times where you doubted yourself and said, 'Look, maybe I'm not going to represent the Dublin senior team; I've represented Dublin U-21s and won an All-Ireland, but maybe I'll just be a good club player'. But I suppose I was always quite determined and always had a huge amount of self-belief, that one day I eventually would get there.

"There's no secret ingredient. I just genuinely worked very, very hard and I busted my balls in the gym, and off the field. And any opportunity I got then to play with Dublin, from 2013 onwards, I took with both hands."

Tweet

Most Read Stories