Mullane has hung up the boots. One of the most committed hurlers I ever had the pleasure of watching and as hard as nails. Probably the greatest hurler of the modern era not to win an All Ireland. Enjoy the retirement John.
ah feck John!!! I was looking forward for ye to give it wan last lash this year.
What a hurler; without a doubt the best hurler not to win an all-ireland in the modern game.
There was a man who gave it all when he took to the field of play. He lived and breathed Waterford hurling; boys like that are hard to come by. The Summer will not be the same this year without seeing his red face, over-the-shoulder-points and his two fists pumping the Waterford supporters into a frenzy.
That is really sad news.
Feck I loved this man.
One of my favourite players of all time. Have to say I preferred him without the helmet for some reason. The way he would shoot over his shoulder making it so difficult to get a block was something he was particularly good at. Cant imagine a Waterford team without Mullane!
Waterford star John Mullane has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.
The De La Salle clubman burst on to the inter-county scene with the Déise in 2001 and became a permanent fixture on the team.
Mullane was a mainstay in Waterford teams that mopped up four Munster SHC titles (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010) and a National Hurling League title (2007). However, All-Ireland glory was to elude the fiery forward and a final appearance in 2008 resulted in a drubbing at the hands of a Kilkenny side operating at the peak its powers.
The 31-year-old's individual exploits resulted in him scooping a total of five All Stars, the first coming in 2003, with others earned in a four-year spell from 2009-2012.
"The sense of genuine pride I got from wearing the Waterford jersey and representing the county I love will live with me forever" - John Mullane
A statement released via the Gaelic Players Association read: "I wish to announce my retirement from inter-county hurling.
"After months of deliberation I feel the time is right to bring the curtain down on my inter-county career.
"The sense of genuine pride I got from wearing the Waterford jersey and representing the county I love will live with me forever.
"Throughout those 13 years I was fortunate enough to play with some great players. I would like to thank all the players sincerely for their support, and more importantly, their friendship.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to extend a big thank you to my coaches, managers, medical and backroom team and all of the friends I have made throughout my career on and off the field.
"Gerald McCarthy, Justin McCarthy, Davy Fitzgerald and Michael Ryan all contributed greatly to my career and I benefitted immensely from all of them.
"My relationship with the Waterford supporters has always been a very special one and I sincerely thank them for their support in both good and bad times.
"I would like to pay tribute to my club De La Salle for providing me with the necessary solid foundations and guidance to allow me to compete at the highest level and I look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.
"In conclusion, I wish to thank my family and my wife Stephanie for their loyalty and support over the years.
"I look forward to supporting Waterford for the years ahead and would like to wish the current management and team the very best for the coming season."
A great man to score a goal when it was needed. Lived and breathed Deise hurling.
Incredibly brave. An amazing pair of eyebrows as well.
Such a pity they came up against the cats when they did.
As the Follower said once "they will be remembered amongst their people" and by hurling fans everywhere.
That Waterford team of the early to mid noughties was one of the most entertaining & exciting teams ever in Hurling. Mullane was a huge part of that. The excitement that Paul Flynn, Ken McGrath, Dan the Man, Tony Browne & Mullane might never be replaced IMO as they were involved in some classic games. Mullane has been super for the best part of 10 years. He'll be a great loss to Hurling & to kids who loved him with whom he was instantly recognisable to.
Pity he never won an All Ireland but he doesn't need that medal to go down as a great.
A real nightmare for a defender - he had speed, strength, skill and was never afraid to take you on.
Some of his morale lifting scores were legendary.
Outstanding player. Pity he never got the big one.
Legend, proves you don't have to have an AI medal to be seen as a Top player in the game. Watching Waterford will never be the same again.
Quote from: orangeman on January 17, 2013, 10:50:35 PM
A real nightmare for a defender - he had speed, strength, skill and was never afraid to take you on.
Some of his morale lifting scores were legendary.
Outstanding player. Pity he never got the big one.
Didn't see this one coming, but I suppose he's been on the go 12 odd years and that'll take its toll even if he did look as fit as a flea last summer.
He'd that touch of Waterford madness about him alright where he'd do the unexpected and is another of the Waterford golden era to hang up their boots without a Celtic cross to show for it.
Along with Tony Brown, Ken McGrath, Fergal Heartly, Paul Flynn (honorary Down man this year) big Dan when he took the notion, they'd some team, but just fell short as their neighbours were too strong for most counties in Ireland in the same era.
Sad to see him gone. One of the real characters.
You'd dismiss him as a bit looney at the start and then begin to warm to his real passion.
I think the stats are that Mullane was the highest scoring player from open play in recent times.
Lazy media analysis of scoring feats tend not to make the distinction.
The paper headlines might scream of an 'amazing' 12 point scoring feat by a Joe Canning or a Henry Shefflin, when 10 of them might have been from placed balls and only 2 of them from play. Obviously freetaking is a skill in its own right.
I wouldn't rule out a comeback from him though. Once the evenings stretch out a bit, he'll surely start to miss the buzz.
Over the last decade or so I have loved watching Waterford. And there was one reason for that - John Mullane. Legend of the modern game
Quote from: Bord na Mona man on January 18, 2013, 11:28:42 AM
Sad to see him gone. One of the real characters.
You'd dismiss him as a bit looney at the start and then begin to warm to his real passion.
I think the stats are that Mullane was the highest scoring player from open play in recent times.
Lazy media analysis of scoring feats tend not to make the distinction.
The paper headlines might scream of an 'amazing' 12 point scoring feat by a Joe Canning or a Henry Shefflin, when 10 of them might have been from placed balls and only 2 of them from play. Obviously freetaking is a skill in its own right.
I wouldn't rule out a comeback from him though. Once the evenings stretch out a bit, he'll surely start to miss the buzz.
He is only 31 ffs.
Great player to watch. Even though teams would have 48 fellas marking him he would still get his shot away.
Hopefully he will reconsider when the weather improves.
John Mullane says he had effectively made his mind up to retire at the start of the 2013 season this time last year.
Mentally it's just after taking over. It's after breaking me. I just feel sapped from it.
John Mullane
The Waterford legend surprised many by announcing his retirement from inter-county hurling yesterday, and in an interview broadcast on Waterford radio station WLR FM this morning, Mullane revealed his thought process, stemming from a gruelling running session at the Waterford IT Sports Campus in Carriganore last year.
"I had my mind made up last year. I remember we were running up the hills around Carriganore. Myself and two of my buddies that I actually started out with, Eoin McGrath and Eoin Kelly and I think it was 'Banger' (Shane) Casey. The four of us, and I think we did about 10 or 12 of them, and I remember coming down the hills of Carriganore and physically was nearly just getting sick," he said.
"I just turned around to the lads. We kind of knew ourselves that this was going to be our last year. I knew then coming down them hills that that was it."
One of the reasons Mullane's retirement has surprised many is his relative youth, as at the age of 31, he could theoretically still play for Waterford for many years to come. However, while he accepted physically he could go on, he said the mental strain was too much.
"Physically I feel I could go for another year or two, but mentally it's just after taking over. It's after breaking me. I just feel sapped from it. And there's a certain element of pressure from it too. I remember talking to Stephanie at home and over the last couple of years, the amount of pressure that I have put on myself.
"I was only talking to her and I said, 'Jesus, the amount of pressure I'm after putting myself under the last five or six years to constantly go out and perform and to not leave anyone down.' I just wanted to leave that go.
"I suppose it's the level of commitment then, and there was family reasons too. It's a young man's game. The bar is being raised every year."
However, while he is obviously sad to go, Mullane has enjoyed one of the greatest careers of any Waterford hurler in history, winning four Munster senior medals, and five GAA All Stars.
"I got a moment to myself yesterday. I went up to my room and started bawling my eyes out. It's easy for people to say, give it another year or two, but when you're in there, it's tough out.
"I'm just glad to be a part of a golden era, to play on some great Waterford teams and to play with some great Waterford players over the years."
There have been some reports in some newspapers suggesting that Mullane's retirement had come about as a result of him having not been offered the captaincy by manager Michael Ryan, but he absolutely denied this, saying that he had in fact, turned down the captaincy.
"I met Michael there during the week. Michael had spoken to me during September and he offered me the captaincy then and I told Michael, 'the best thing you can do now Michael is give the captaincy to a 25/26 year-old going forward where it will stand to him.'
"I would have liked to have it when I was 26 but that wasn't to be. The captains that were in there did a fantastic job and I told Michael, 'I think the best thing to do is to give it to a 25/26 year old that is in his prime'.
"We were only speaking about it the other night and we came up with a name and the fella that we think will probably captain Waterford this year is a great choice, and would be my choice. But that never affected me."
Mullane said he will play on with his club De La Salle, with whom he has already enjoyed great success, for another few years at least, and that he will gradually begin the process now of moving into coaching and managerial roles.
"Anyone that does know me knows I'm very passionate about the game and as I said before, I think any dressing room I go into in the future, I'll bring that winning mentality into it. It's an area I would like to consider in the near future (management).
"I'll go off and get a bit of experience in my own ways and start helping out with the club too. In small ways, gradually build it up. I still have another three or four years left playing at a high standard with De La Salle.
"I'll slowly go off helping out here and there with teams, with De La Salle, and get a bit of experience. And when the time comes, please God in a couple of years time I'll be ready for it."
I think it speaks volumes for his standing not just in Waterford or in hurling, but in the country, that when Dublin Airport put up a display called Faces of Ireland (http://www.dublinairport.com/Travel-feature-home/faces-of-ireland.aspx), there was never going to be any danger that a certain face wasn't going to be there to represent the national sport:
(http://www.comeonthedeise.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/250-Faces-of-Ireland-1-John-Mullane-429x500.jpg)
A picture speaks a thousand words. If you'd like a thousand or so words, you can click here (http://www.comeonthedeise.ie/2013/01/18/to-know-him-is-to-love-him/).
Probably my favourite hurler over the past 10-12 years . Just loved the passion and skill that he brought to the game. Hopefully he will reconsider. Would have loved him to win an Ai either with his Club or County.
Always enjoyed watching him play. Best of luck to him
It won't be the same watching Waterford without John Mullane. it's nice to see the tributes from people from other counties for him and he was a popular player for his skill and passion. He was one of the top forwards in the game for over a decade and was one of the leading players in the most successful Waterford team since the late 50/early 60's.
The level of physical and mental commitment to inter county Gaa is seeing players retire earlier than usual. Best wishes to John in the future and he will be missed this year.
Quote from: waterfordlad on January 18, 2013, 03:25:08 PM
It won't be the same watching Waterford without John Mullane.
That is so true, when Waterford used to be on the telly i always watched and one of the reason was John Mullane. Any time he got the sliotar you the could hear the crowd getting excited as more often than not a score was on the way. Pity he never got an all-ireland along with Ken Mcgrath, Paul Flynn, Big Dan and Tony Browne some of the finest hurlers i have every seen.
I wouldn't worry, lads. Without him we're not likely to be on the telly much in the future anyway :-\
Flynn, Dan, Tony Browne etc are on all the lists of Waherford players but no mention of Eoin Kelly.
Good luck to John Mullane in his retirement. He combined talent, passion, committment and a pure love of the game to make him on of the stand out players in the sport. No hurling fan would have begrudged him a Celtic Cross.
Talk of Tony Browne calling it a day aswell.
Wouldn't be surprised to see Mullane make a comeback ala Lar Corbett. Great player to watch.
You could make a strong case for Mullane as the greatest forward of the modern era. As BNMM said and from my own observations he probably scored and did more from play than any other forward. I'd guess he probably won more scorable frees than any other forward too. Delivered in every big game and as everyone has said he did a lot for the spectacle of the game. Too many faceless drones out there now. One big downside of the helmets rule is that we won't get to know players as well as we got to know Mullane, Big Dan, Sean Og, John Power, Sylvie and the 1000's of other helmetless warriors down through the years.
Quote from: Asal Mor on January 20, 2013, 09:32:07 AM
You could make a strong case for Mullane as the greatest forward of the modern era. As BNMM said and from my own observations he probably scored and did more from play than any other forward. I'd guess he probably won more scorable frees than any other forward too. Delivered in every big game and as everyone has said he did a lot for the spectacle of the game. Too many faceless drones out there now. One big downside of the helmets rule is that we won't get to know players as well as we got to know Mullane, Big Dan, Sean Og, John Power, Sylvie and the 1000's of other helmetless warriors down through the years.
As I said on countless times, hurling shoots itself in the foot by not promoting their players. In the parade the helmets should be off so the children recognise their heroes.
Was at the Munster final when he was sent off and the look on his face when he came off was awful, the sense of letting his players and county down after getting to the Munster final, then for Waterford to win and him to miss the semi final must have been heart breaking. Seen him in the final against Kilkenny, while it was a hammering session John Mullane fought the fight, never stopped throughout the final and his performance wasn't overlooked by the commentators at the time. Again against Cushendall he was a standout player along with Bryan Phelan. Just never won the big one for club or county
At 31 years young you have to wonder how hard it must be to prepare yourself for the season ahead, the training needs to be looked at seriously. Attitudes towards this hard ass training needs to be revisited. Professional football teams don't knock their pan in as hard as that for preseason. Losing high profile players like John at that age is crazy. Ryan Giggs (hate using soccer analogies) was the best player on the pitch last week at nearly 39 years of age. There is not a chance that he'd be playing if he was doing those hard pre season sessions
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on January 20, 2013, 12:13:24 PM
Was at the Munster final when he was sent off and the look on his face when he came off was awful, the sense of letting his players and county down after getting to the Munster final, then for Waterford to win and him to miss the semi final must have been heart breaking. Seen him in the final against Kilkenny, while it was a hammering session John Mullane fought the fight, never stopped throughout the final and his performance wasn't overlooked by the commentators at the time. Again against Cushendall he was a standout player along with Bryan Phelan. Just never won the big one for club or county
At 31 years young you have to wonder how hard it must be to prepare yourself for the season ahead, the training needs to be looked at seriously. Attitudes towards this hard ass training needs to be revisited. Professional football teams don't knock their pan in as hard as that for preseason. Losing high profile players like John at that age is crazy. Ryan Giggs (hate using soccer analogies) was the best player on the pitch last week at nearly 39 years of age. There is not a chance that he'd be playing if he was doing those hard pre season sessions
Good point, John Evans the new Roscommon said in an article yesterday in the Independent that Roscommon are easing their way back so far. Taking 2 training sessions a week and the players doing their own individual gym work, compared to other counties doing 5/6 nights.
He said there was no point peaking too soon as its a long season, and players would begin to lose the appatite after a few months by a constant over-load of sessions every week.
Really felt for him the year clarinsbridge beat lasalle as that would have been his all ireland.
He had some passion about him and great player to boot. Waterford are haemorraghing quality players unfortunately so may be tough for them to mix it with the big boys now.
Can't help but feel he's retiring too soon but best of luck to him.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on January 20, 2013, 12:13:24 PM
Was at the Munster final when he was sent off and the look on his face when he came off was awful, the sense of letting his players and county down after getting to the Munster final, then for Waterford to win and him to miss the semi final must have been heart breaking.
This clip always gets me in good form, Mullane's "I love me county" and the buck beside him being the third person partaking in the interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XuVigxAKvo
Be great to have Mullane make a comeback later in the summer for the Munster championship, be some crowd and circus about the place. Will be sorely missed on the hurling scene.
Quote from: Bord na Mona man on January 18, 2013, 11:28:42 AM
Sad to see him gone. One of the real characters.
You'd dismiss him as a bit looney at the start and then begin to warm to his real passion.
I think the stats are that Mullane was the highest scoring player from open play in recent times.
Lazy media analysis of scoring feats tend not to make the distinction.
The paper headlines might scream of an 'amazing' 12 point scoring feat by a Joe Canning or a Henry Shefflin, when 10 of them might have been from placed balls and only 2 of them from play. Obviously freetaking is a skill in its own right.
I wouldn't rule out a comeback from him though. Once the evenings stretch out a bit, he'll surely start to miss the buzz.
Definitely agree with you regarding the covergae a free taker gets compared to a man who scores more from play. Most reports at any level will have their headline stating the free taker as the hero, when he might have scored 0-13 and none of these were from play, yet some other player might have scored 4 from play. The top scorers in both football and hurling every year are usually not the same as the top scorers from play, some differentiation should be made. Mullane was up there with the best and I would love to see the stats on who was the top scorers from play each year. I would imagine Joe Canning scorers more on average from play though.
TG4 had the 2004 Munster Final on at the weekend, it was weird seeing players without helmets even though its only been a few years that the rule came in enfocing the wearing of helmets for all players.
Yep, here is a better analysis of the stats of scores from play.
http://www.hurlingstats.com/blog/archives/553
Mullane comes out tops since 2004.
Corbett is equal with him on the averages. Corbett did fatten his average by bagging 4-4 from play in a 7 goal turkey shoot of Waterford in 2011. And shrunk it by not scoring in his last 4 games.
Quote from: Bord na Mona man on January 21, 2013, 10:04:51 AM
Yep, here is a better analysis of the stats of scores from play.
http://www.hurlingstats.com/blog/archives/553
Mullane comes out tops since 2004.
Corbett is equal with him on the averages. Corbett did fatten his average by bagging 4-4 from play in a 7 goal turkey shoot of Waterford in 2011. And shrunk it by not scoring in his last 4 games.
You also got to bear in mind Davy Fitz's uber defensive tactics where he'd everyone barring Mullane and another forward in the top 50 yards of the pitch, made it damn hard for teams to score against them but hard on the two forwards to get scores as well.
Certainly one of the most dangerous forwards of his era, I'd put him slightly ahead of Corbett as he could win his own dirty ball which wasn't Lar's game. Lar preferred to use his pace to pick up loose ball bouncing around a defence. Both knew where to put it when they got it though.
Gift Grubs tribute to John Mullane
http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2013/01/22/gift-grub-john-mullane-tribute/
Is he going to still play club
For those who didn't hear it the Mossy Henebry tribute is great:
http://media.todayfm.com/podcast/70736/?uniqueID=17727 (http://media.todayfm.com/podcast/70736/?uniqueID=17727)
The 12th season of the popular TV documentary/profiles of the great players of recent years in Gaelic games has been launched by GAA Uachtarán Liam Ó Néill and will air on TG4 on Sunday tea time, from Sunday 2nd February.
The series, which is produced for the Irish language channel by Nemeton, the Waterford Gaeltacht production company, has proven very popular with followers of Gaelic sport at home and abroad.
Each programme is a profile of the career of a famous player and the new season will bring back fond memories for all followers of Gaelic sports as the players themselves, the team-mates, rivals and supporters, take a trip down memory lane with loads of archive clips from their glorious playing days, It is definitely one to view and record and to savour.
The first of this year's ten-episode season features John Mullane, the star Waterford forward who intrigued hurling fans with his skill and his quest for an elusive All Ireland medal. The De la Salle club-man always wore his heart on his sleeve and in this programme John characteristically open and honest as he reflects on the many ups and downs of his career including dealing with the aftermath of his sending off in the 2004 Munster Final.
Quote from: All of a Sludden on February 01, 2014, 08:07:22 PM
The 12th season of the popular TV documentary/profiles of the great players of recent years in Gaelic games has been launched by GAA Uachtarán Liam Ó Néill and will air on TG4 on Sunday tea time, from Sunday 2nd February.
The series, which is produced for the Irish language channel by Nemeton, the Waterford Gaeltacht production company, has proven very popular with followers of Gaelic sport at home and abroad.
Each programme is a profile of the career of a famous player and the new season will bring back fond memories for all followers of Gaelic sports as the players themselves, the team-mates, rivals and supporters, take a trip down memory lane with loads of archive clips from their glorious playing days, It is definitely one to view and record and to savour.
The first of this year's ten-episode season features John Mullane, the star Waterford forward who intrigued hurling fans with his skill and his quest for an elusive All Ireland medal. The De la Salle club-man always wore his heart on his sleeve and in this programme John characteristically open and honest as he reflects on the many ups and downs of his career including dealing with the aftermath of his sending off in the 2004 Munster Final.
Laochra Gael is the dog's bollocks
Best programme on the telly by a long way.
Den scoth
The Nudie and Keady programmes were absolutely stunning.
One of my favourites, Gave his all on the pitch will be sadly this summer, one of the greats.
Quote from: mossey101 link=topic=22629.msg1318278#msg131827b]8 date=1391428873]
One of my favourites, Gave his all on the pitch [/b]will be sadly this summer, one of the greats.
Why will he be sadly?
I enjoyed that programme yesterday. It covered the up and downs of John Mullane and Waterford from his debut in 2001 to his last year in 2012. He gave some performances over that time and deserved the tributes he got from the likes of Donal O'Grady and Ger Loughnane.
Is there anywhere or time to watch this program again?
Mullane was a great warrior and a brilliant hurler too. Loved his passion but what a hurler too. He used to swing over some unbelievable points from ridiculous angles. Deserved an All-Ireland like so many of his Waterford team mates - Shanahan, Browne, McGrath, Flynn.
Quote from: Sea The Stars on February 03, 2014, 07:10:13 PM
Is there anywhere or time to watch this program again?
It is repeated on Friday night at 11.15pm.
I don't get RTE, tried a number of different boxes but can't seem to get it.
is there anywhere online to watch this
They're fast running out of material if there is a show dedicated to John Mullane!
Quote from: maxpower on February 04, 2014, 01:59:25 PM
I don't get RTE, tried a number of different boxes but can't seem to get it.
is there anywhere online to watch this
Try the TG4 player on tg4.ie - its up there.
Quote from: Premier Emperor on February 04, 2014, 03:17:05 PM
They're fast running out of material if there is a show dedicated to John Mullane!
I could watch him all day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOM-aDLM9q4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOM-aDLM9q4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCtTIifXnYk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCtTIifXnYk)