John Rochford (24 April 1882 – 17 October 1953) was an Irish hurler who played as a full-back at senior level for the Kilkenny county team.
Born in Threecastles, County Kilkenny, Rochford first played competitive hurling and cricket in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Kilkenny senior team. He made his senior debut during the 1902 championship. Rochford immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen, and won seven All-Ireland medals and nine Leinster medals.
As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Rochford won three Railway Shield medals. At club level he was a two-time championship medallist with Threecastles and Tullaroan. He also played with Erin's Own.
Throughout his career Rochford made 41 championship appearances. He retired from inter-county hurling during the 1916 championship.
In retirement from playing Rochford became involved in coaching. He was co-trainer of the Kilkenny team that won the All-Ireland title in 1922, a role he also played with the 1931 Leinster title-winning side.
Rochford is widely regarded as one of Kilkenny's all-time greatest players and as one of the greatest full-backs of all-time.
Playing career
Club
Rochford began his club hurling career with Tullaroan in his late teenage years. By 1901 he had joined the Threecastles club and lined out in his first championship decider. A 5-10 to 3-7 was Rochford's lot on that occasion, ironically at the hands of Tullaroan.
Two years later in 1903 Rochford was back in the championship decider with Threecastles. A 2-10 to 0-5 defeat of Kilmanagh gave him his first championship medal.
After defeat by Mooncoin in the 1908 championship decider, Rochford joined the Erin's Own club before later rejoining Tullaroan.
In 1915 Rochford won his second and final championship medal following a 7-2 to 2-2 trouncing of Dicksboro.
Inter-county
Beginnings
Rochford made his debut with the Kilkenny senior team during the 1902 championship, however, their campaign ended in a single-point defeat by Dublin in the Leinster decider.
In 1903 Rochford picked up his first Leinster medal. The game against Dublin ended in a 1-5 apiece draw, however, Kilkenny were subsequently awarded the title by the Leinster Council. Rochford's side later trounced Antrim before lining out against Cork in the All-Ireland home final which wasn't played until 11 July 1905. Cork's Andy "Dooric" Buckley scored at least six goals as Kilkenny were humiliated by 8-9 to 0-8.
Early successes
Rochford added a second Leinster medal to his collection in 1904 as Kilkenny recorded a 2-8 to 2-6 defeat of Dublin in the provincial decider. The subsequent All-Ireland final was delayed until 24 June 1906, with three-in-a-row hopefuls Cork providing the opposition. It was the beginning of a hugely successful era for "the Cats" as Cork were heading into decline. A first half goal by Dick Doyle put Kilkenny in the driving seat, while goalkeeper Pat "Fox" Maher made a great save in the dying moments of the game to help Kilkenny to a 1-9 to 1-8 victory. It was Rochford's and Kilkenny's first All-Ireland triumph.
In 1905 Rochford won a third successive Leinster medal as Dublin were once again bested by 2-8 to 2-2. The subsequent All-Ireland final on 14 April 1907 saw Cork provide the opposition once again. The game was a high-scoring affair with Cork winning by 5-10 to 3-13. The game, however, had to be replayed as Cork goalkeeper Daniel McCarthy was a British army reservist and Kilkenny's Matt Gargan had earlier played with Waterford in the Munster championship. The replay was another high-scoring one, with Jimmy Kelly scoring 5-2 for Kilkenny. A puck-out by Cork's Jamesy Kelleher is said to have bounced and hopped over the Kilkenny crossbar. Kilkenny won the game by 7-7 to 2-9, with all seven of their goals coming in a thirty-minute spell. It was Rochford's second All-Ireland medal.