HANNAH’S HUNGER GAINS CAN DRIVE HER
HANNAH TYRRELL insists her drive to become a better footballer for Dublin would not have ebbed if her first year in blue had ended in glory rather than disappointment.
Tyrrell was the Blues’ star player in 2021 following her switch from playing rugby for Ireland but her county’s bid to claim the All-ireland five in a row ended in failure in the final against Meath (inset).
“Whether we had won or lost last year, I’d still be hungry,” said the 31-year-old.
“I just want to be playing at the highest level that I can and be the best footballer that I can.
“I’m always just trying to better myself on and off the pitch. Losing last year wasn’t nice and it wasn’t fun.
“I vowed to see if there’s any improvements I could make on my game which would help the team as a whole, and try to bring that into the everyday aspects of my game this year.
“We’ve all had our own analysis of that game individually and collectively and there’s definitely things that we can work on.
“For me, it’s just about wanting to be the best, and believing that I can be one of the best footballers out there – but sure it doesn’t matter believing that if you don’t actually go and do it.”
Tyrrell admits she would have loved to have played professional rugby while with Ireland but in terms of job security – she is a schoolteacher – it didn’t fit.
Instead, she returned to football and while she hit the ground running after switching sports last May, Tyrrell plans to go to another level as she looks forward to tomorrow’s Leinster SFC opener against Westmeath.
“I wouldn’t be entirely happy with my game last year, there were a couple of aspects to it which I definitely could improve upon.
“I don’t think as an athlete that you can ever get comfortable in being good enough. You can always be better.
“I don’t think I’m up there as one of the best, but I think I could be if I put the work in. That’s what I’ve been trying to do in the last few months.
I’m talking about every aspect of my game going forward.
“I’m not just a free taker, I want to have so much more to my game than that and be a threat in every aspect. Hopefully I’ll show you at the weekend.”