Brave Ross Tierney opens up on 'sink or swim' route to Motherwell and providing for young family

With his baby-face and 5ft 6in build, he might not look the toughest guy at Fir Park.

But you won’t find a player in Motherwell’s dressing-room as resilient as Ross Tierney.

Physically, the young Irishman is still developing. But mentally, he’s already had more life experience than some ever will.

Through football, Tierney has managed to get himself out of Ballymun, the tough Dublin suburb where his family still live.

His two older brothers, Alan and Dean, were also talented players who could have made the grade.

But alcohol and other distractions derailed their careers in the game.

Tragically, Tierney’s other brother, Aaron, took his own life in March 2020.

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The 21-year-old already has two children of his own, Leon and Layla-Rose, who are now in Lanarkshire along with partner Nicole.

The move itself from Ireland to Scotland isn’t easy for any young family.

But Tierney earned it due to the impact he made at previous club Bohemians.

As a teenager, he got a goal on his debut for the club. He’s also scored in Europe.

And his last game for Bohs before joining Well was the FAI Cup Final against St Patrick’s in front of 40,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium.

That penalty shoot-out defeat is the only blot on a