After his best season, which saw him climb into the world’s top 64 for the first time, Cork’s 22-year-old Hill hopes to build momentum in his career, with the help of one of Ireland’s best ever players….
Aaron, how’s your preparation going as the 2024/25 season gets underway?
Great, I have just spent two days working with Fergal O’Brien who is coaching me now. I first met Fergal when I was 16, I was playing in an amateur tournament and he came to me for a chat. Since then I have practised with him often, we have built up a good bond and I have stayed at his house a few times. Once he decided to retire then we talked about working more closely together. I am going to see him every couple of weeks, and he’ll always be there for me on the phone. I have got this far on my own but now I need someone in my corner. Manchester City’s players could do well on their own but they are much better with Pep Guardiola! I’m delighted to be working with Fergal. He has so much experience – he has seen everything and felt every emotion, so in two months he can teach me what might take two years to learn on the tour. And he wouldn’t waste time on me if he didn’t feel I have potential.
Last season was a breakthrough for you as you won a lot of matches and had a few good runs in ranking events. Are you happy with the progress you’re making?
Going into last season I knew I needed to get into the top 64 so I’m proud to have achieved that because it’s not easy. I don’t want to sit back on that, I want to push forward and get into the top 48 then top 32 and eventually top 16, one step at a time. I feel I can get more consistent and have deep runs more often. I am more comfortable on the tour now and I’d say in 90 per cent of matches I am able to play my normal game. The trick is to go out and play to win, rather than worry about losing which you see a lot on the tour because the pressure is high. Fergal will help me to do that, it’s a team effort now. I won most of my qualifying matches last season and those games are huge.
Apart from Fergal, who do you practise with?
My favourite place to go is Antrim Sports Club which is where Mark Allen, Jordan Brown and Robbie McGuigan are based. They have really helped me to improve and I have to thank them. Mark is the world number one so you couldn’t have a better sparring partner. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jordan win another tournament this season. When I first turned pro I considered moving to England and one of the academies there. For a while I lived in Liverpool as I have family there, and I practised with Allan Taylor who is a very talented player. But after I went to Antrim for the first time I decided I wanted to stay in Ireland - it’s a long way from Cork but I go there when I can. In Cork I do mainly solo practice at the Crucible Club, I’d like to thank them as well as my other sponsor Singleton's SuperValu in Hollyhill for supporting me.
What was your best moment last season?
Beating Mark Selby at the Welsh Open was special because my family came over as well as my friend Michael Judge, we decided to make a week of it because Llandudno is such a lovely place. So to win a couple of matches including beating Mark made it a great week. Performance wise, my best was probably beating Joe Perry 5-0 in the Wuhan Open qualifiers and also beating He Guoqiang 5-3 in the last 16 of that event to reach my first ranking quarter-final.
How much do you enjoy travelling and playing at different venues?
I love it, I went to China twice last season and I hope to have more trips to China and Saudi Arabia this season. I am only 22 and I have already seen some amazing places – it’s a great time to be on the tour. I hate losing in qualifying matches because when the final stages are on TV I’m gutted not to be there – in those weeks I’ll always try to keep myself occupied and not watch it on TV.