Just before last year's National Hurling League final, David Tierney was brought in as a late replacement. His all-action display earned him the man-of-the- match accolade in most quarters and launched him on an inter-county hurling career with a national title.

A star of Galway's perennially misfortunate under-21s, he has made the transition to senior in style. Along the way he attracted the attention of John O'Mahony and the county's footballers after featuring with the big ball under-21 side as well.

A panellist with the team that reached last year's All-Ireland final, he was a sufficiently peripheral presence for the decision to quit duality not to hurt too much.

"I've had more time to relax and get tuned in for games," he says about the current hurling season. "Last year I was going with the hype, being brought into both panels at a young age.

"This year I stepped back and got more focused. I kicked a few balls in the FBD League and then made my decision. The prospect of training with two teams at that level is very demanding. To do it with one is hard enough."

Was he therefore surprised when team-mate and dual successor Alan Kerins decided to take up football at the top level?

"Alan is different, a different person with a different decision to make. He had been playing a bit up in Trinity but I hadn't been playing in the college so I wasn't playing at the level to do myself justice."

The shock defeat of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final didn't, he feels, see him at his best.

"I thought the last day bypassed myself and Andy Comerford. The play was over the other side and we cancelled each other out. That can happen, depending on the puck-out and the wind.

"You just have to be quick on the breaks but then I've Brod (Kevin Broderick) inside me and he's lightning fast and mops up everything that gets through."

It was widely remarked after the match that Tierney, at 21, with fewer than five championship starts, had rapidly become the father figure in Galway's centrefield with the advent of his new partner Richie Murray, who is still in his teens.

"Yeah. Someone said that: 'you're the old lad of the pairing'. But Richie's come out of minor, the big occasion doesn't faze him a bit and he's holding the flag more than I am this year. You're going to get that anyway. The team is young and we don't have a whole lot of matches under our belt.

"Sunday's only my fourth championship match start so it's a still a learning experience.

"You just get on with the game. Richie's a fine hurler and I've total faith in him and we just get on with it. We're both young, both enjoying our hurling. But Tommy Dunne is an experienced campaigner and Eddie Enright is doing well so it'll be tough to get on top."

For all the pressure at such an early stage of his career, he is content to be in such a central role. "I like midfield. You get into the action straight away, straight from the throw-in you're getting into the thick of things immediately.

"A failure of mine is maybe to drift out of games and try to turn it on for a few minutes but at midfield you have to work harder and it gets you involved more."

And the question everyone asks Galway hurlers these days. Is Mike McNamara's training routine killing you?

"I wouldn't say that. It can be tough going. But at the same time, if Ollie Fahy can come through it, anyone can."

David Tierney

Club: Kilnadeema-Leitrim

Age: 21

Height: 5ft 10ins

Weight: 12st 6

Occupation: Student at NUI Galway

Honours: NHL 2000. Connacht SFC 2000.