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ladiesgaelic.ie // 39 FIONA MCHALE Volume 14 | Issue No 2 | PEIL Summer the best captains I have ever had the privilege of playing with or coaching. She continued leading Mayo for the past 3 years without fuss considering the intensity of commuting to training from Dublin. Working a very intense auditing job, travelling from the capital twice a week and dealing with the pressures of professional exams, Tierney still led us strongly from the front and played her best football earning her a fully deserved All-star just last season. How and why? This girl is ambitious, a competitor and above all a professional. Why was she such a good captain? This is similar to the burning question of what makes someone a good leader. A good leader is hard to define. A good leader is a person who you instantly visualise in your head but you just can't articulate what makes them so good. If I were to try sum this girl up as as the exceptional leader she is I would attempt with these few; Passionate. Committed. Selfless. Anyone who knows Tierney can vouch for me with that description. In Tierney's year as UL captain she helped steer the team culture to one of hard work, commitment and comradery. I have heard and also witnessed some heartwarming stories over the years of older players performing great acts of kindness towards incoming freshers in making them feel welcome and involved in the group. Good leaders develop ideas. Great leaders develop people. The best leaders develop new leaders. I have witnessed the legacy of leadership she left behind in captains that followed in her footsteps - Niamh O'Dea, Kate Keany, Anna Galvin and Laurie Ryan. When the dust had settled after winning the O'Connor cup Tierney wrote every member of management an individual letter of thanks. Some people in life impress you with simple gestures from time to time and this was one moment in mine where I was truly blown away. The manager's/coaches job is made a lot easier when the right person is picked for the captaincy role. Some say it's merely a formality. I would have to disagree. The coach is left safe in the knowledge that the team is in good hands when the captain is a true leader. In my introduction I alluded to winning trophies. If I were to play football for all the trophies I might win I would probably have given up a long time ago. Yes it's the dream of winning the elusive Brendan Martin that sets you off each year with new hope for the season ahead but ultimately it's the bonds that you develop with your team mates that keep you there and give you long lasting memories. When you lose with them you lose together but equally if you don't win with them then you don't win at all. This article may appear like a small dedication to Sarah Tierney, my captain, my teammate, my friend. And why not? The footballing world needs more stories about people like Tierney. Captains Sarah Tierney of Mayo, left, and Tracey Leonard of Galway with referee Gerry Carmody Sarah Tierney of Mayo is presented with her TG4 All Star award by Ard Stiúrthóir TG4, Alan Esslemont and President of LGFA Marie Hickey