Samantha Lambert missing Tipperary inter-county days but embracing new commitments

It might be almost three years since she announced her retirement, but there are still parts of inter-county football that former Tipperary captain Samantha Lambert misses to this day.

On 21 January, 2021, the Ardfinnan star brought the curtain down on a career with the Premier County that saw her winning no fewer than three TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship titles – including two as skipper in 2017 and 2019.

A senior championship outfit since that latter win over Meath, the current crop of Tipperary footballers will begin their Lidl National Football League Division 2 campaign against Cavan later this month. While this used to be the time of year that she relished the most, the school teacher at Comeragh College in Carrick-on-Suir has nevertheless found ways to move on from the highest level of ladies football.

"I miss the girls more so than anything, the socialising with them. They become your family really and a lot of my best friends are and were playing county football. I do miss them a lot and I love the intensity of training, the hard slog this time of year as well. That's why I loved it, most people would be the opposite way around," Lambert explained.

"It was great to be back fit and feeling fit, looking forward to the league games. Definitely, I do miss it, but at the same time I’ve a lot going on now that keeps my mind busy and keeps me busy too."

Aside from continuing to line out at club level for Ardfinnan and welcoming a new baby in 2023, Lambert has also been working on a number of initiatives that she feels passionate about since calling it a day with Tipperary.

In early 2022, she became an ambassador for the LGFA's ZuCar Gaelic4Teens programme — a coach education based initiative that is aimed at