Tyrrell set for return to Dublin ladies football duty
By Daire Walsh
Following an absence of seven years, Clondalkin’s Hannah Tyrrell is set for a surprise return to the inter-county ladies football scene at Parnell Park this Sunday.
After recently helping the Ireland women’s rugby team to a third-place finish in the Six Nations Championship, Tyrrell has been listed amongst the substitutes for Dublin’s LIDL National Football League Division 1B opener against Waterford (throw-in 2pm).
The 30-year-old school teacher – who is also a former Ireland sevens rugby international – last lined out for the Jackies as a goalkeeper in their 2014 NFL campaign.
However, she is now expected to be utilised as an outfield player as Mick Bohan looks to guide his all-conquering outfit to a fifth consecutive All-Ireland senior football title in 2021.
Having initially featured as a juvenile and adult star with local club Round Tower Clondalkin,
Tyrrell put ladies football on the back burner in order to place her complete focus on rugby. An extended hiatus for the oval ball game left her at a loose end last summer and she subsequently joined forces with Na Fianna on the northside of the county.
An U16, U18 and Senior ‘B’ All-Ireland winner with Dublin in the past, there will be plenty of intrigue surrounding her involvement with the Brendan Martin Cup holders.
Aside from Tyrrell, there is plenty of local interest in the Sky Blues squad on Sunday.
Lucan Sarsfields’ Abby Shiels will don the number one jersey, while Orlagh Nolan (Ballinteer St John’s) and the returning Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis) are named alongside Leah Caffrey in the full-back line.
Carey’s Davis team-mate Siobhán McGrath takes on the pivotal position of centre half-forward and a third member of the Tallaght club – Ciara McGuigan – joins Tyrrell on the reserves list.