Less than a half an hour after one of Waterford’s darkest hours in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last summer, John Mullane emerged to face the cameras. No one would have blamed him for drowning his sorrows in the privacy of the dressing room and slipping away from the scene of a harrowing defeat but he felt an obligation to apologise to the supporters. While Mullane rediscovered his form on the pitch thereafter to claim a fourth All Star that moment spoke volumes about an unshakeable pride in hurling for his county. That afternoon it took a hammer blow.
In an interview with Denis Walsh last August, Mullane revealed the doubts that seeped in after that game. “I won’t lie to you, giving up crossed my mind. I had a couple of conversations with my wife. I looked to my parents too and people I’d be close to. At the end of the day, I’m a winner. When I go on the field I’m trying to win, When you come off a defeat like that it’s nearly like a death in the family.”
The news this week that the 31 year old will rejoin Michael Ryan’s panel after a period of recuperation was greeted with a sense of relief around the county. It quelled speculation surrounding possible retirement and also the issue of the captaincy. While the new regime appear eager to catch a glimpse of every player on the panel in the first chapter of the season, Mullane has timed his runs to perfection since 2008 in order to peak for the climax. By the time he steps out in Croke Park, he is in optimum condition to perform at the level required. At this stage of his career, he knows what it takes to reach that level. Ryan accommodated Mullane by changing his training regime and while he will be away from the panel, he won’t be allowed to fall behind fitness wise.
Mullane’s return will also dampen the rumours of unrest between himself and Ryan which was fuelled further by the appointment of Michael Walsh as captain. As Paul Flynn articulated on Newstalk, these tales tend to grow legs in the county at present. At his first press conference Ryan rejected any rift between him and the De La Salle players saying that “there was no problem in the world we had a fantastic season, we came within one breaking ball of probably winning an All Ireland. I honestly don’t know where the rumours came from. I don’t think it’s even worth trying to guess it." And in Mullane’s interview with Diarmuid O’Flynn of the Irish Examiner, he denied that the captaincy played a part in his decision to withdraw from the panel for a short period. “It’s absolutely not an issue. It would have been a great honour to have been chosen but Brick was a fabulous captain in ’08 and ’09; he has my 100% backing and the same goes for the whole panel.”
Even if he does feel some disappointment with the decision, Mullane cares too much about Waterford’s fortunes to let it affect his contribution or his own leadership role on the field. At this time of his career he just doesn’t need the early season grind especially when other commitments also require attention. “Hurling is now number two – my number one priority is my family, Stephanie and my two daughters. I don’t have the luxury I used to have when I was single of having no worries outside of hurling.”
As many of the leading lights like McGrath, Shanahan and Flynn made their exits an increasing leadership burden has been placed on Mullane with each passing year but he has embraced the extra responsibility. This growing maturity mixed with his raw emotion has moulded a star of the game and an almost unmarkable score getter when on form. The rough edges on show when he entered the inter county arena have long since been smoothed out. He worked diligently to perfect his game and also cope with the attention he receives from opposing corner backs. Where a younger Mullane would rise to the bait or make rash decisions, he now knows how to walk away from heated situations and win vital frees from overenthusiastic markers. He has also succeeded in bringing his weaker right side on a par with his left over the years. And when Davy Fitzgerald looked to him to provide a greater goal scoring threat last season, Mullane responded with two green flags against Limerick.
The scoring statistics reflect how Waterford would miss his presence. He averages almost four points a game from play in championship hurling with the 2007 All Ireland semi final against Limerick marking the last time he was held scoreless. The De La Salle attacker not only scores on good days but puts up almost a one man resistance act in defeat. In the 2003 Munster final against Cork he posted 3-1, in the 2009 Munster decider he managed 1-5 against Tipperary to be named as man of the match and in last year’s All Ireland semi final he finished up with 1-6 but was somehow pipped to the Sunday Game award by Michael Fennelly.
If John Mullane did decide the time was right to call it a day, few could suggest that he left anything in the tank in pursuit of Liam McCarthy. But for now a county can ease their worst fears as they wait for its leading All Star recipient to re-emerge and light up the summer once again. Any chance of breaking the Kilkenny-Tipperary duopoly in 2012 requires a fit and focussed Mullane on the field and hungry for more.
John Mullane Stats
Championship debut: Munster championship 2001 v Limerick
Championship appearances: 46
Championship scores: 15-125
Munster titles: 4 (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010)
National League: 1 (2007)
All Stars: 4 (2003, 2009, 2010, 2011)
2003 – Wing Forward
2009 – Corner Forward
2010 – Corner Forward
2011 – Corner Forward
9 All Star nominations (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
1 Munster All Star (2004)
1 Railway Cups (2007)
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