Banned Mullane contemplated quitting hurling

WATERFORD hurler John Mullane considered quitting the sport and emigrating following a controversial incident in which an opponent was seriously injured.

Mullane was suspended for three months following the U21 challenge match between De La Salle and Mullinavat in which a Mullinavat player lost a testicle. In the wake of that incident, Mullane claims he has suffered verbal abuse from members of the public and was forced to take a stress break from work.

“I remember the incident clearly, I’ve had to recall it so many times at this stage,” the Munster SHC medallist told the Waterford News and Star.

“The sliotar dropped between the two of us out near the sideline and I pulled on it. Unfortunately, I connected with the other player on the follow through but I didn’t think anything serious had happened.

“The referee didn’t think it was anything other than an accident and it was only the next day and a couple of days afterward that I learned that the player was badly hurt but, and I can say this honestly, it was an accident.

“I pulled, he got caught by the follow through and that was it. It was a challenge game, there was no malice intended, nothing done deliberately.”

After learning of the serious nature of the injury sustained by the Mullinavat player, Mullane’s life and outlook began to change.

“I didn’t want to even look at a hurley for a spell afterwards. Obviously I wish that it hadn’t happened, that the lad hadn’t been injured. I am genuinely sorry for him and the injury he sustained.”

Mullane said he began to experience insulting and abusive comments.“I was being victimised by people who didn’t know the real me. There were so many stories and rumours floating around that people were jumping to conclusions and I was getting abuse everywhere I turned.”

He was then called to appear before a meeting of the GAC at Croke Park, which undertook a mammoth investigation of the incident. “I was called to Croke Park three times before they made their decision and handed me the three-month suspension. The first time I gave my side of the incident, telling them that it was an accident. The Mullinavat contingent said they believed it was intentional. Then the second time I was called up I was asked to describe what happened.

“After walking out of the GAC meeting the second time I did believe that they would agree with me that it was an accident but we were called up again on a Thursday to go over everything and when I got a call telling me that I had been given a three-month suspension, the bottom fell out.

“I really did think about quitting. For the previous two months I was stressed, my family were stressed, I was on the verge of saying ‘sod it’ and emigrating to England or Australia.”

Before he could reach any such decision Mullane and the rest of the Waterford camp flew out to Morocco for their holiday, a trip that Mullane believes helped him overcome the worry. “When we were out there Justin (McCarthy) took me aside and told me to just get back hurling, that everything would sort itself out. At this stage I was out of work on stress relief, my career, my social life, everything was in a dark place but I came back from Morocco with a clear head, I knew that I would get through, no matter what.”

Midnight, June 30 is obviously a date and time that looms large in Mullane’s life, the date and time his suspension is complete and it is a point to which he is looking forward.

“The last six months have been a very dark time and I am still trying to get my life back on track. I am training hard, putting in a lot of time in the gym but it is hard to watch from the stands as the guys play the matches.

“Thankfully I really believe that the Championship is when the GAA season really starts. During the league you usually have one eye on the league and one eye on the championship and if Waterford do beat Kerry then hopefully I will have some part to play in the Limerick game. In the last six months, I have been a hero after Waterford won the Munster final, then I was vilified but that hasn’t tainted me toward the genuine Waterford supporters.

“I did field some horrible abuse and it did affect me but I still believe Waterford supporters are the best in the country. I love pulling on that white and blue shirt and look forward to doing so again. Hurling is my life. I feel that once I can take that first ball in a competitive match that I will finally be back on the road.”