MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Stepping away from the spotlight
But that’s where John Mullane realised the credits were about to roll.
It was after the 11th or 12th circuit and the Waterford hurler was feeling that his lunch was about to make a reappearance. Then he had his moment of clarity.
“I was with Eoin Kelly, Eoin McGrath and Shane Casey, and I remember coming down the hills and the three of us, me and the two Eoins, were saying we’d see out the year. I knew it then.
“In my own mind I gave myself every opportunity, I didn’t want to jump into it, so I gave myself Christmas and January — and my mindset didn’t change.
“I knew it. If I wasn’t 100% in my own mind there was no point going back. I wouldn’t go into a set-up if I wasn’t 100%.”
Waterford will miss him. Everyone will. The fiery character who gave the Cork support two fingers on his way to a Munster final hat-trick is more measured now, but the passion still radiates out from him.
He was a favourite player on the neutrals’ favourite team.
“We were unfortunate really, we came into an era in which there was a fabulous Cork team, which many people feel was probably one of the best Cork teams ever.
“The Kilkenny team were probably the best hurling team of all time and then coming to the end there was a Tipperary team under the guidance of Liam Sheedy.
“I suppose we were unfortunate, if it was any other era we probably would have picked up one or two (All-Irelands), but it wasn’t to be.
“Kilkenny really changed the game from 2006-2007. I think that was the pivotal point, I think that really changed the landscape of hurling today.”
The regrets are game-related. Mullane got a red card in the 2004 Munster final after striking Cork’s Brian Murphy off the ball: “I felt really powerful and strong that year and was playing good hurling. Kilkenny weren’t as strong that year, we met them in the semi-final and I had to sit out that game.
“Looking back if I was playing in that game I think Kilkenny were there for the taking that day. I think we could have pushed on and won the All-Ireland.
“In 2007 then after the first game with Cork I got struck down by a vomiting virus. We played them in the replay and Limerick in the semi-final and I was just non-existent. Those would probably be the two big regrets I have.
“But regarding training and preparing myself I have no regrets, I gave it everything.”
Mullane won a lot of friends by not contesting his red card in the 2004 Munster final; he took his medicine and has no regrets, though there were rumours in Waterford of a legal challenge to the suspension.
“I stand by it because what I did that day, I was lucky to only get four weeks, I probably should have got three months.
“If I was to have gone down that route and if I would have taken to the field that day in my own mindset I don’t think I would have been right. So I think it was the right decision at the time.
“The money was on the table (for a legal challenge), there was a local businessman rang me and asked me (about taking a case).
“The money was there, it was never an object. But for my own sanity it was never an area I was going to go down.”
His club De La Salle won the Waterford county title last year and will be favourites again this season. Daughters Abbie, 6, and Katie, 2, lost out when he had to commit to training, but that’s changed now.
“I can probably go off and plan a holiday and plan a few weekends away with not having the pressure of not knowing from week to week when games are.”
He knows what he’ll do for a weekend in the summer, though. He’ll go to see Waterford play Clare in the Munster championship.
“The first championship game, I don’t know how I’m going to take it in but in time you’ll get used to it and go back to being a supporter. I only want what anyone else wants. Chasing the dream for me is over.”
*Ger Cunningahm, the former Newtownshandrum Cork SHC winning coach, will be taking the Waterford hurlers for some sessions, specifically focusing on forward play.
