Sarah Tierney was never going to leave playing for Mayo on the sour note which she departed back in 2018.
One of 12 players who quit the panel amid an acrimonious fallout with manager Peter Leahy back then, Tierney headed for Australia having “fallen out of love with football” and set herself up in Sydney.
She joined up with the Michael Cusack’s club out there and the more relaxed nature of the game in that setting sparked her enjoyment again.
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Her old teammate Cora Staunton began making waves in the fledgling AFLW and though an offer was made to Tierney, she was getting enough fulfilment from football and her intriguing career as a production accountant as it was.
She said: “I was asked at the end of 2019 if I would have played one full season of football in Sydney but to be honest I didn’t have much of an interest in it. I really enjoyed playing Gaelic over there and being around all the Irish.
“I got really good work opportunities, I was working for ESPN and Universal Music and I actually worked on the Batman movie as well so I didn’t have much of an interest in it.
“I love Gaelic football, I don’t think you can beat it. I wouldn’t be as fond of the AFL if I’m honest.”
As well set up as she was professionally, there was always the pull to play for Mayo again - before it was too late.
“It would have been my biggest regret if I had never gone back playing with Mayo again. My time with Mayo, I have been really proud of it all and it was an honour to be captain of Mayo, especially in 2017 when we got to that All-Ireland final.
“There was a lot of hurt there after what happened so I knew I always wanted to come back and give it another shot.”
As captain when the issue with management came to a head in 2018, Tierney was the main spokesperson for the disaffected players, something which took a toll on her.
“It was very difficult, no regrets though I’d have done the exact same thing if I had it over again.
“It was just a really difficult time and when you love something so much. I wouldn’t say it was taken away from me but I was not staying around for that. No way.
“I don’t have any grudges, it’s nice now we’re all playing together, we have have a great set of management there and the future is looking bright within Mayo ladies which is good.”
This Sunday, she lines out in a Connacht final against Galway, where she now works and from where her mother hails.
“She’s a Mayo woman now, converted she is, from Clonberne, but if they decided to live in Kilkerrin-Clonberne you never know what could have happened!” Tierney smiled.
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