Patrick 'Rocky' Carr hopes Naomh Columba can open IFC day on the right note

Patrick 'Rocky' Carr has something to aim for when he takes the field on Saturday in the Intermediate Reserve final against St Mary's, Convoy.

Carr will be aiming to bring home a medal to go alongside the medals of his father, Paul 'Rocky' Carr, an All-Ireland U-21 winner in 1987 and part of the great Naomh Columba sides of the 1990s. It has been a good run for the joint captain and
Patrick is happy with the way the team are playing.

"We are going well for the last few weeks in fairness,” he said. “We are playing nice enough football and putting up big enough scores. We're happy that we have made it this far.”
But he also knows that they will face their toughest test in the final.

"Convoy and ourselves, we have battled it out twice already this year. We had a draw earlier in the league and we had a draw in Pairc na nGael here in the championship. So, they are definitely the toughest opponents we faced. So it is nice to get to play them again in the final."

He says it would be nice to start the day off well, especially with both teams in the final, as Naomh Columba seniors take on Dungloe afterwards.

"It's absolutely fantastic,” he said. “And we want nothing more than to put in a good performance and hopefully get a win. And then go out and support the senior team then. Because that drives them on. It's fantastic being out before them in fairness."
Carr is presently working from home as an accountant and is able to enjoy the occasion.

He added: “There is a great buzz about the community. This is my first county final since Under-14 so I'm really looking forward to it. It is well overdue as we were in a couple of semi-finals and quarter-finals in the last few years. So it is nice to finally break through."

As for getting some help from home, he says: "I do get the odd bit of advice from my father. I suppose some of the advice might be a bit outdated. You mightn't get away with some of it anymore. Yeah, he is good for the odd bit of advice now and then.

"It's phenomenal really, in a rural area like this. The club means everything to people and to have two teams in the county final is unbelievable, considering that there was that gap that neither team made the final and all of a sudden now we're both in it. It is just fantastic. It would be nice surely. I suppose it is about time I brought some silverware back to the house, definitely.”