Johnny Watterson talks to Tom Tierney, Munster's latest recruit for their European Cup campaign

It was all in the gesture. Last week Declan Kidney spoke to Tom Tierney. Over the course of the conversation the Munster coach asked him to be a part of his European Cup squad. Kidney hadn't seen Tierney play rugby since last spring. Not many had, except those who turned out to watch Garryowen face Carlow last Saturday where Tierney played for 20 minutes.

For the player, the fact Kidney wanted him involved in the panel was music to his ears. It was also a surprise and in no small way reminded the international scrumhalf what his value really was. For the timing, no one could have sent a more important message; to be part of the squad, to be part of something.

"Over the last eight months Declan has kept me in contact just to keep my own head ticking over. To be involved is how I am looking at it," he says. "There are five or six guys around who have a head start. This year I hope to have eight or nine games under my belt and enjoy being back. Then I'll get critical. To be critical now . . . it wouldn't be the right thing to do."

For a time in his short career Tierney struggled to believe he really belonged anywhere. The first wave of ill-timed publicity arrived in 1998 after he played with the Ireland under-21s against France. Following a post-match drugs test he was found to have an adverse finding and following an independent hearing was reprimanded by the IRFU. No suspension was meted out as it was seen as an innocent over-the-counter mistake. But the case hung like a cloud.

A year later he toured Australia with the Ireland senior team and eagerly worked towards holding his place for the doomed 1999 World Cup the following autumn.

Shortly after, the Six Nations Championship arrived and Ireland travelled to Twickenham for their first match. Still reeling from the World Cup, the team was humiliated 50-18 in front of 75,000 people as England ran in six tries. Cries for heads to roll were loud.

"What happened in the World Cup and what happened in Twickenham hit me hard. It really took me about a year and a half to recover from that. I just wasn't used to it, to be criticised so much. Everything before in the papers had been good. I wasn't used to people slating me the way they did and that really did my head in. It really did take me around 18 months to get over it."

When it seemed Tierney had come out of that trough he faced Young Munster on May 6th last year in the All-Ireland League. Because of the foot-and-mouth crisis and the suspension of matches, Garryowen were on their fourth game in nine days.

"I remember I kicked the ball ahead and was then pushed from behind," he says. "I outstretched my arm and when I fell the shoulder just popped. I'd an MRI scan three days later. My shoulder had dislocated, all the ligaments on both sides were ripped and the bone at the joint had chipped.

"I went up to Mr Colville in the Blackrock Clinic. He said I could have a small job but there was a risk it could happen again. He told me to bite the bullet and get it done. I made the decision in his office. On May 30th I went under the knife. I had to. My head would have been wrecked stepping on to a pitch and thinking it might happen again."

Despite his Irish caps, Tierney is in no doubt about the task and people ahead of him. He lists the names - Stringer, O'Meara, Doak, Prendergast, Reddan, Willis. At 25 he has the years ahead of him to improve while the past has made him stronger. Those in Garryowen who know Tierney recognise the strengthening of character. They see a wiser player.

"I haven't had an easy ride over the past few years. I think everything that's happened me has happened me for a reason. But it has put things in perspective and I think my rugby can benefit. Those things have really made a man of me," he says.

" I've learned the hard way, but I've learned."