Jack Rochford

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Jack Rochford
irish = Seán de Rochfort
fullname = Jack Rochford
placeofbirth = Three Castles
countryofbirth = County Kilkenny
bday=24
bmonth=4
byear= 1882
dyear=1953
dday=17
dmonth=10
height =
nickname =
county = Kilkenny
province = Leinster
club = Tullaroan
Threecastles
clposition = Full-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Kilkenny
icposition = Full-back
icyears = 1902-1916
icapps(points) = 41
icprovince = 9
icallireland = 7
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Jack Rochford (24 April, 1882 - 17 October, 1953) was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local clubs Tullaroan and Threecastles and was also a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1902 until 1916. Rochford is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest ever players.fact|date=April 2008

Early & private life

Jack Rochford was born in Three Castles, County Kilkenny in 1882. The son of a master tailor, he was educated locally at Clinstown national school before later following in his father's footsteps as a tailor. From an early age Rochford had a huge interest in the game of hurling. In 1900 the Gaelic Athletic Association introduced a 'ban' on its players playing 'foreign sports.' Rochford remained opposed to this ban from its inception and continued to enjoy cricket, golf and tennis while also playing hurling.

Playing career

Club

Rochford began his hurling career with the famous Tullaroan club. He later joined his local Threecastles club and, in all, he won two senior county titles.

Inter-county

Rochford first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny senior team at the turn of the 20th century. He made his debut in 1902, however, Kilkenny lost out by a single point to Dublin in the Leinster final. Rochford didn’t have long to wait before his first major success as Kilkenny were awarded the provincial championship in 1903 giving him his first Leinster title. Kilkenny, however, were later defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland ‘home’ final. In 1904 Rochford captured his second Leinster title as Kilkenny triumphed over Dublin the provincial final. The Leinster champions later faced Cork in the All-Ireland final, thus beginning in earnest one of hurling’s greatest rivalries. The game was a close affair, however, Kilkenny hung on to win by a single point giving Rochford his first All-Ireland title. In 1905 Rochford captured his third consecutive Leinster title following another defeat of Dublin in the final. For the second year in-a-row Kilkenny faced Cork in the All-Ireland final. Cork won the game, however, a replay was ordered for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Cork goalkeeper Daniel McCarthy was a British Army reservist and secondly Kilkenny’s Matt Gargan played with Waterford in the Munster Championship before joining the Kilkenny team. In the replay Kilkenny reversed the defeat by defeating Cork on a score line of 7-7 to 2-9. Rochford had captured his second All-Ireland title.

Kilkenny lost their provincial crown to Dublin in 1906, however, the team returned in 1907 with Rochford capturing a fourth Leinster title. For the third time from three appearances Cork later provided the opposition in the All-Ireland final. Once again a single point separated the two sides at the end of the game with Jack Anthony capturing the winning point for Kilkenny giving Rochford a third All-Ireland title. Kilkenny surrendered their provincial and All-Ireland titles in 1908 by refusing to take part in the competition, however, the team returned in 1909 to defeat Laois in the provincial final giving Rochford a fifth Leinster title. Kilkenny later faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland final. Before the game itself there was internal fighting within the Kilkenny camp and a selection row left the team short of substitutes. In spite of this the team still went on to win the game giving Rochford a fourth All-Ireland medal. It was also Tipperary’s first-ever defeat in an All-Ireland final. It would be two years before Rochford won his sixth Leinster title. Kilkenny later faced Limerick in the All-Ireland final, however, the pitch in Cork was water-logged and the game was refixed for Thurles. Limerick were unable to attend the replay and Rochford’s fifth All-Ireland title was awarded to him rather than being won on the field of play. Kilkenny later defeated Tipperary in an alternative to the final, however, Limerick later defeated Kilkenny in a challenge game.

In 1912 Rochford won a seventh Leinster title before later lining out in yet another All-Ireland final. Once again it was Cork who provided the opposition, however, two goals by Sim Walton and Matt Gargan sealed the victory for Kilkenny on a score line of 2-1 to 1-3. For the third time Kilkenny defeated their old rivals by a single point and Rochford captured a sixth All-Ireland title. In 1913 Rochford won his eighth Leinster title following a replay against Dublin. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny square up to Tipperary for the second time in five years in the first 15-a-side championship decider. Kilkenny lead by 1-4 to 1-1 at half-time and eventually hung on to win on a score line of 2-4 to 1-2. This win gave Rochford a record-breaking seventh All-Ireland medal, a record that he shared with fellow Kilkenny players Sim Walton, Dick Walsh and Dick Doyle. Their remarkable record stood for forty years until it was surpassed by Christy Ring of Cork and later by John Doyle of Tipperary. Kilkenny’s Frank Cummins later equalled Rochford’s record in 1983. Three years later in 1916 Rochford won his ninth Leinster title, however, he refused to play in the subsequent All-Ireland final, which Kilkenny lost to Tipperary, due to the selection of the team. This brought an end to Rochford’s inter-county career.

Jack Rochford died on 17 October, 1953.

Teams