1. Three of the best
(2003)
Mullane exploded from the blocks in the 2003
Munster final. He had
pocketed 1-1 after eight minutes off Diarmuid O’Sullivan as the Cloyne defender
only lasted a quarter of an hour. Goal number two arrived when a piece of quick
thinking from Paul Flynn picked him out and he drilled it into the bottom
corner. The third one capped it off. Eoin McGrath’s high ball broke off Seamus
Prendergast into his path and he evaded the cover in a flash. He then swept the
sliotar across Donal Óg Cusack into the top corner. The
Cork keeper stood rooted to the spot. Precision.
He left empty handed on all fronts however as Cork lifted the cup and Tom Kenny
nicked the man of the match award. Not quite hat trick heaven but pretty
sensational nonetheless.
2. Late late show
(2009)
Mullane was buzzing in 2009. Before the quarter final, he
had scored 1-15 in three
Munster
championship games. This was hurler of the year territory. Against the
Tribesmen however, he had to bite his lip for the most of the afternoon and
knuckle down to face Ollie Canning. He continued to make the runs and earn a
couple of frees before his break came as
Waterford
drew level late on. He collected from Declan Prendergast and near the sideline 45
metres out he took aim and split the posts. “Any time you pop up with a winner
in a quarter final; that always sticks out.”
3. Underdogs upset
the odds (2002)
June 30, 2002 started well for the 21 year old as he had backed
Brazil
to win the World Cup and Ronaldo to finish as top scorer. A tidy earner but as
throw in time neared,
Waterford
were long odds to trump the All Ireland champions. “Nobody gave us a hope in
hell but we had the belief that we were going to do it.” Mullane announced his
arrival on the championship circuit that day by trimming Donncha Fahey for four
points. The livewire in the red helmet and Eoin McGrath always offered an
outlet with their pace and energy. The pair climbed the wires behind the goals
at the end as they savoured a taste of the big time.
4. Sweet semi final
success (2008)
On the day that
Waterford
cast aside their semi final hoodoo, Mullane terrorised Eamonn Buckley. An early
avalanche of scores saw the outsiders roar into a six point lead after only
nine minutes. Mullane struck two of those and created another. Seven minutes
in, he snatched Eoin Murphy’s line ball on the 65 and hared away from Buckley
to take his point off his right side. He didn’t hide his emotions afterwards as
he rolled around with Davy Fitzgerald on the
Croke Park
turf.
5. Fourth Munster medal (2010)
Mullane started the drawn game determined to add to his
medal collection. Running away from the goals towards the sideline on the 45
metre line with John Gardiner in chase, he went for an ambitious one over his
shoulder and found the target. He scored four points in all and added three in
the replay. He produced another jaw dropping effort from a similar angle under
the Saturday night lights, this time leaving Eoin Cadogan behind and executing
another crisp strike off his left. He had to sit out the extra time and he
prowled the sideline itching for another slice of the action. Dan Shanahan took
his spot and we all know what happened next.
6. Magic amidst the
madness (2007)
“It was a completely mad game. Goals and scores were flying
in from everywhere it was just mad.” That’s how man of the match Mullane
described a semi final white knuckle ride between
Waterford
and
Cork. He
renewed acquaintances with Brian Murphy but no defender could tame him in this
mood. He had 1-3 banked by half time as they led by 4-8 to 2-9. The goal came
from a Stephen Molumphy skyscraper that broke down off Eoin Kelly and he
snapped up the sliotar and belted it first time off his right to the top
corner. Michael Duignan was giddy with excitement. “Mullane is on fire today,
his first touch is incredible” He added another vital point in the second half
to swat
Cork away.
7. Green flag takes
down green and white (2011)
With the seconds ticking down,
Limerick
led by two and smelt victory. After Eoin Kelly’s free was blocked, Mullane was
lurking on the opposite flank. He controlled Kelly’s crossfield ball but still
five defenders stood between him and the goals. Through the despairing dives of
the green shirts, the ball shook the roof of the rigging. After a two year goal
famine in championship, he grabbed 2-2 to pull it out of the fire. “It was more
instinct than anything else. I put myself in the position and I made nice room
for myself. When you get an opening like that you have to take it. Davy put me
under a bit of pressure before the game to get more goals.”
8. Defiant in defeat
(2008)
Mullane sizzled in the sweltering sun at the Gaelic Grounds
but
Waterford
ultimately wilted to Clare by 2-26 to 0-23. The Banner shuffled the deck to try
and stem the flow of scores but to no avail. The man in the number 13 shirt
railed against the dying of the light and scored eight points in the process
from all angles to take the man of the match accolade in unlikely
circumstances.
9. New lease of life
(2011)
Waterford’s seven goal hiding
in the
Munster
final cut like a dagger. The anguish was etched in Mullane’s face as he entered
the press area to talk with RTÉ. “I’d like to personally apologise and on
behalf of the team to all the people of
Waterford
who travelled to
Cork
today.” He didn’t excuse himself from blame afterwards either. Presented with a
fresh challenge against
Galway, which saw him
stationed on the forty, Mullane got back on track. He put three points past the
Tribesmen and then gallantly chased a lost cause when faced with Kilkenny. He cracked
home a first half goal and David Herity deprived him of a second soon after. He
persevered right to the death and finished with 1-6.
10. The highs and
lows (2004)
Waterford had matched
Cork stride for stride in
a high octane first half and wanted to raise the stakes. Mullane resumed the
scoring moments into the second half with a rousing point. A couple of minutes
later, as Ken McGrath placed a free, an altercation with Brian Murphy saw Sean
McMahon produce the red card and the distraught corner forward walked the
plank. “He knows it himself; you can see by his expression” Michael Duignan
observed in commentary. “It was a rush of blood to the head.” He handled the
fallout with dignity. He gave an emotional interview to RTÉ after the final
whistle and opted not to pursue the appeal route. “I let myself down. I did the
crime and I had to serve the time” he said later that year. Kilkenny ended
Waterford’s interest as
he watched from the stands.
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