The guts for glory

Waterford’s National Hurling League final triumph was the highlight of the spring.

Can the Déise drive on and convert early-season form into championship success? MICHAEL MOYNIHAN met star forward John Mullane to chew over the possibilities

ONE OF THE most recognisable men in Irish sport doesn’t attract much attention from the tourists lunching in the Granville Hotel in Waterford. To the American golf trippers and English stag parties enjoying an early-afternoon coffee, John Mullane — talking about a visit to Xtravision which turned up Martin Scorsese’s The Departed (“I’m into gangster films, but that wasn’t up there with the greats,”) — is just another punter.

The locals notice, though. A few shake hands, there’s a salute or two, and service at the bar is quick. That happens after you help your county to a first national hurling title in 44 years.

“There’s nothing like seeing the people on the pitch like that Sunday,” he says. “Young and old, all together, it brings the whole county together, city and country. The older generation get great enjoyment out of it. Having people coming up to say ‘thanks’ to you ... it’s unbelievable to give them something that hasn’t happened in 44 years.”

He’s at pains to point out the team’s celebrations weren’t as unrestrained as those of the fans — “I suppose a couple of the boys enjoyed the Sunday and Monday but the focus is back on the championship, it’s back down to the business end of it now” — even if he’s aware that the close win gave Waterford fans some bragging rights.

“The rivalry between the city and south Kilkenny is phenomenal, you could compare it to any soccer rivalry in England, though it’s good-natured. We’re listening to them for the last few years about their All-Irelands, and rightly so, but it was nice to give our own crowd something to shout about. We’re living alongside each other and we’ve been in their shadow for a long time.”

STAYING out of the limelight hasn’t always been easy for the De La Salle clubman.

“Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a nice easygoing fella, not a troublemaker. Don’t judge a book by a cover — or like Dan’s (Shanahan) tattoo, don’t judge me unless you know me, and rightly so. Dan has had awful stick down through the years and I suppose that’s why he got the tattoo. It’s unfair when you hear these rumours going around about you — I had some troubles in the past but I’ve gone beyond that.

“After the league final I was back with the club on Tuesday, and there were rumours I’d been arrested! That’s not nice to hear. There’s a Bebo [social networking site] page somewhere on the internet pretending to be me, some fella abusing other GAA players — that’s uncalled for.”

For many people, Mullane came to prominence with a career day in the Munster hurling final against Cork back in 2003. There were three fine goals, but also an unmistakable gesture to the crowd (“I regret that. There was a bit of name-calling that day. I still shouldn’t have done it, though.”) which drew plenty of criticism.

The following year he was sent off in the Munster final. With Kilkenny looming in Croke Park there were rumours of a High Court injunction to free him to take the field. Many applauded Mullane’s decision to take the suspension without going the legal route favoured by other counties. He’s unequivocal about the decision.

“The money was there (for a court case), people approached me about it but I’ve no regrets about that time. The GAA should stand for what it is and fellas should abide by the rules.”

Through it all, he remained a folk hero to the Waterford fans. No mystery to that: he gives it his all every time. “The supporters like me, I’m lucky in that they like me for what I am — an honest player who tries his best. I was a supporter myself and I know what it’s like.”

In the off-season, Mullane falls in with local soccer club St Joseph’s to stay in shape, though he’s sceptical about one of his teammate’s skill levels: “Shanahan is hanging around in goal alright for Lismore, but I don’t think Clinton Hennessy has anything to worry about.”

It’s not surprising that he enjoys soccer, given the company he used to keep. On the same weekend that Waterford won the league title, an old classmate chipped in with a vital goal for the Premiership champions.

“John O’Shea was in my year at school, and we played soccer for De La Salle school. At U16 level we won the Munster championship, and the All-Ireland champions that year were to go to Peru. John was over and back on trials, but he played in the semi-final against a team from Celbridge — 1-1 after extra time, went to penalties, and the penalty we missed, and lost the game on, was taken by ... John O’Shea. So Celbridge won the All-Ireland and got to go to Peru.

“When he’s back in Waterford I always remind him of it! In fairness, though, when he comes home he just falls in with all his friends. He’s never forgotten his roots. He helped the Waterford U21s last year.”

One of O’Shea’s teammates is a particular hero of Mullane’s, even though the person in question gave the Cork hurlers a hand last season. “I’m a Roy Keane fan because of everything he’s achieved. His preparation, everything. A man of his pedigree to come into the Cork hurlers’ dressing-room, that’d give you a big lift. If he walked in your eyes would pop open.”

JUSTIN McCarthy said after the league final that Waterford were the best team around in April; the aim was to be the best in September. Mullane agrees that they’re progressing, but they’re only taking it one day at a time — June 17, to be specific, when they meet the winners of Clare-Cork in the Munster semi-final.

“Looks like things haven’t been going too well up in Clare, they’ll probably still have a crack but realistically you’d have to fancy Cork. We wouldn’t have a preference — our target is to get ourselves mentally strong and ready for whoever we play, to get ourselves right for June 17.”

The benefit of experience is clear when Mullane mentions the league final of 2004 — and the rotation system Waterford have been operating up front this year.

“That year, when we lost to Galway in the league final, if we’d won that we probably wouldn’t have beaten Clare and gone on to an All-Ireland semi-final. This break gives us a chance to get a grip on things, to regroup for a couple of weeks and let everything settle down for the championship.

“As for the moves, Justin’s leaving players to decide to roam around themselves — if I want to switch out the field I’ll do it, the same with the other lads. That’s where the experience comes in, and the bond between all the forwards. And the fact that we have players who can play across the forward line in different position. Hurling is a 74, 75-minute game now. You can score three or four points in a couple of minutes, you have to keep going to the end — and we’ve been doing that.”

It’s what you have to do to get up there with the greats.