Magic Mullane’s leg belter
No, not figuratively — quite literally, and the evidence was there for all to see in the second half of Sunday’s high-tempo game, with his reddened calves and hamstrings visible in the picture above.
“I have a routine now in the dressing room where I hit myself across the backs of the legs with the hurl before I go out, to get the blood flowing,” he explained yesterday, taking a well-earned day off to recover from his exertions of the day before, courtesy of an understanding employer, PHS Washrooms. “That’s all it is!”
An unusual pre-game routine, no doubt about it, but no-one can argue with the results and his 2-2 was pivotal in Waterford’s dramatic win.
Whatever about Mullane’s contribution, however, if ever there was a game where the lie was given once and for all to the oft-repeated nonsense that ‘it’s all about the players’, this was surely the one.
True, Limerick threw the match away on the field when players missed a few gilt-edged opportunities with victory in their grasp, true also it was won on the field by Waterford when a combination at the death of the old guard created (Eoin Kelly) and finished (Mullane) the decisive goal chance.
From start to finish, however, the mark of the respective managers, Davy Fitzgerald and Donal O’Grady was all over this game.
Late last year, O’Grady took over a team (and county) in turmoil and already he has guided them to Division Two success, promotion back to the top tier.
This tie was another level again, however, and again they were ready. New players in new positions, new style, up against the Munster champions, yet once Limerick settled to the task they played like a side that had never been away — a superb management job.
Then you look at Waterford. Munster champions, yet for this game Fitzgerald named five championship debutants in the starting 15. Courage, yes, but that’s to ignore all the other factors. There’s the work done with those youngsters, the opportunities given in the league to grow into this team, then the judgment that they would they measure up in the cauldron of Munster championship. Courage is a factor, but there’s a lot more to ‘the Davy factor’.
“You’ve got to give him great credit,” agreed Mullane. “He took a chance on five young fellas and it paid off. They were all fantastic which bodes well for the future — there’s been a lot of team-building going on in Waterford.”
It wasn’t just on the kids that Fitzgerald placed his faith; he also went with veteran Tony Browne at wing-back and again, was rewarded in spades, with the veteran playing his 20th season like it was his first.
Mullane: “Ah sure I’m never surprised by anything Tony does anymore. This is my 11th season but I can’t see myself going another nine years — there’s only one Tony Browne! He’s our Paolo Maldini (the legendary defender spent 25 seasons with AC Milan), we won’t see a guy like him again. He’s 38 but he looks after himself very well, trains hard, drives himself the very same as he always did. He’s an inspiration to anyone, young or old — in time people will realise what an iconic figure he is.”
Waterford are in position to do what they’ve never done before, retain their Munster title.
“Yes that was one of the things we looked at the start of the year, that’s what we set out to do. But we’re under no illusions, the form of yesterday won’t win us a title and we have a lot of improving to do over the next four weeks if we’re to win, whether it be against Tipperary or Clare.”
