Allstar Mullane picks up Decies Hurler of the Year award

WATERFORD’S lone Allstar of 2003, John Mullane, has been named the Decies Hurler Of The Year.

Mullane was the county’s most consistent player in the Guinness All-Ireland SHC, scoring three goals in the Munster Final defeat to Cork and also impressing in the All-Ireland qualifier against Wexford at Nowlan Park.

Mullane’s remarkable achievements came after he served a six-month suspension imposed from Croke Park following an incident in an U21 club challenge game last year in which a Mullinavat player sustained a serious injury.

Mullane insists that the incident was entirely accidental, but the suspension meant that he missed the entire National League campaign and returned to county duty for Waterford’s first round defence of their Munster SHC title against Kerry in May.

The Footballer Of The Year award will be presented to Stradbally’s exciting talent Michael Walsh, who helped his club to a third successive senior championship title and was also named man of the match in Waterford’s historic Munster Under 21 final victory over Kerry.

Meanwhile, Kilkenny County Secretary Pat Dunphy is perplexed at James McGarry’s omission from this year’s Allstar hurling selection.

In his address to the county’s annual convention tomorrow night, the secretary admitted that McGarry’s quest for an Allstar is a cause of surprise amongst the All-Ireland champions.

“Despite another year of sterling service for the Cats, the star goalkeeper has been overlooked once more.

“Eight Allstar awards for 2003 was a great return for all the hard work put in by our team. But what does James have to do to get one of these awards? James had another great year - he was soundness personified.

“It seems to me that if you give interviews to journalists, dive all around your goal area and let in plenty of goals, you are guaranteed an award.”