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.
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 whirlwind start to his career. And he went through all of this before his 21st birthday.
Tierney made the same promise to his mum as his brothers before him – to make a name for himself doing what he loved.
The difference is, he plans to keep his.
As he prepared for Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibs, the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international said: “Back home, my two brothers, Alan and Dean, were decent footballers but chose different routes in life.
“They played a lot. There’s a big age gap between me and my eldest brother, Alan. He’s 44. My Ma was 43 when she had me – I was a bit of a surprise!
“Growing up, I heard that my brothers had a great chance.
“People would say: ‘They went down a different path but you can change that’.
“They both made promises to my Ma and I probably made the same one. She was like: ‘I’ve heard all this before’.
“So she didn’t get her hopes up. But hopefully I can do better.
“Alan’s nickname was Monster. Everyone was afraid to go into a tackle with him.
“I’m 5ft 6in, he’s 6ft 3in so there’s a big difference between us.
“I was the victim of Monster’s tackles. People say I’m small in stature but I’m not afraid of a tackle. I just jump back up.
“That’s from growing up and getting smashed by my brothers.
“Growing up in Ballymun, it’s a tough area, it’s either sink or swim. Alan played for Tolka Rovers and Shelbourne.
“My other brother Dean played at Home Farm in the same team as Darren O’Dea (ex Celtic ). The manager back then said if Dean didn’t make it he’d hang up his managerial boots.
“But unfortunately, Dean and Alan went down the drink route, which back then was the norm.
“That impeded them and Dean also only has one kidney so that didn’t help.
“It’s probably beneficial to me that I was born last to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes they did. They’ve been able to tell me what not to do.
“This is my job now. I need to put food on the table for my kids and pay bills.”
In a previous interview, Tierney spoke about his brother Aaron and the pain he suffered when he lost him to suicide, aged just 20.
He told The Irish Post: “It took its toll on me and I went through a dark place.
“Covid didn’t help because I had more time to think about it so it hit me more.
“I call Aaron my brother but he was more my best friend.
“I wouldn’t be playing football without him. Everything I’ve done, I owe to him. That was more motivation to me.”
That motivation and hunger to succeed has led Tierney to Motherwell and a huge Scottish Cup tie this afternoon.
That appearance at the Aviva in November has given him a taste and he’s now dreaming of Hampden. Getting there would be yet another tangible achievement for someone so young. But he’ll never rest on his laurels.
Tierney’s upbringing and the guidance he got at St Kevin’s Boys as a young player will make sure of that.
He said: “My last game for Bohemians was a cup final. It didn’t go my way but it was a good experience.
“During the warm-up, it wasn’t too noisy. But standing in the tunnel all I could see was red smoke walking out.
“It was a brilliant feeling but it would have been better if we’d won. I was gutted I couldn’t leave with a bit of silverware because everyone at the club and the fans deserved it.
“Playing in Europe was also an unbelievable experience.
“Coming over here, I knew I had that chance again with Motherwell. That was another motivation for me.
“To play in a cup final would be great. If you get to a semi here, you play at Hampden, which is a bonus
“I never think about what I’ve done so far. I’ll do that when I retire. If I sit back and dwell on it, I’ll miss chances here.
“I had a coach back home who told me time is precious. After losing that cup final with Bohemians, I was gutted.
“But a guy called Philly McMann said the only thing I had to worry about was time.
“He said there would be someone on their deathbed begging for time and I was walking around happy and healthy.
“I’m playing football so I’m just going to take it all in. There’s always someone in a worse position.
“I had friends over to see me last week and they went home on Monday to work on a site.
“They think I have a life of luxury here but they had the same chance as me. They just didn’t have the hunger I have.
“I’m really happy here and looking forward to the game against Hibs.”
