Mullane: veterans still have role to play
Last Sunday’s semi-final defeat to Kilkenny was swiftly followed by the expected speculation regarding the futures of leading lights like Tony Browne, Ken McGrath and, on this occasion, even Dan Shanahan.
“You can’t beat experience,” said Mullane who was collecting his second successive Opel player of the month award in Dublin, this time for July. “Look at that Kilkenny team, they had seven or eight lads over the age of 30. You can’t buy experience at this level especially for young fellas coming through. It’d be great to have the likes of Tony Browne and Ken McGrath and these lads around for their experience. It’s priceless really.”
Waterford’s demise as a hurling force has been predicted time and again in recent years and it remains to be seen whether last weekend’s gutsy performance against the reigning All-Ireland champions was a defiant last kick or a bridge towards a bright future.
Unsurprisingly, Mullane is of the latter opinion. “We won a Munster minor title for the first time in 17 odd years this year and they were in the Munster U21 final as well. Waterford hurling is in a very good state compared to other counties.
“Kilkenny seem to be that bit ahead of all the other counties at the moment. The structures are right in Waterford from Tony Forristal level to colleges hurling. We are getting the rewards of it now with the young fellas coming through.”
The De La Salle forward also pointed to the greater strength in depth on the panel when compared to years gone by. A core of 16 or 17 players has expanded to over 20 but the weight of expectation remains constant on a select number of shoulders.
Mullane’s performances in previous rounds were central to the county’s progression through to yet another All-Ireland semi-final but he was brilliantly marshalled by Jackie Tyrrell on Sunday and the player’s disappointment with his own performance, as well as the result, was still evident yesterday.
“You can’t take away from Jackie Tyrrell’s performance either. He out-hurled me on Sunday. Fair play to him, but these things happen. Other days I get the better of other players. Fair play to Kilkenny.
“Jackie was outstanding Sunday and I was very below par. That’s the way it goes sometimes. That’s what it’s all about in life and sport. It’s all ups and downs. At the moment we are back down again.”
Adding to the sense of frustration is the fact that he believes Waterford under performed. Individual errors, at the back and up front, cost them dearly but Mullane had nothing but praise for his team-mates.
And, though the result went Kilkenny’s way yet again, Mullane believes the ‘best of the rest’ may finally be reeling in the Cats whose hegemony will stretch into a fourth winter if they go on and reclaim their title next month.
“The game is changing. It’s gone much more tactical now. The team that is most tactically aware will beat Kilkenny. We’ll see Sunday between Tipp and Limerick. Maybe one of those two teams will go on and surprise us all.”
Few people are in a better position to judge the outcome of next weekend’s second semi-final. Waterford faced both counties in the 2009 championship, defeating Limerick after a replay and falling to Tipperary in the Munster final.
“It could go either way. Tipp will have in the back of their minds that they don’t have a great record in Croke Park and they will want to put that hoodoo to bed. Limerick are a good team when they get to Croke Park.
“They are a tough physical side and there won’t be much in that game either. If you were to look at the two sets of forwards, you’d have to say that Tipp have that bit more punch up front and might get through in the end.”
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