This one is for the fans, says happy Mullane

THE MAN who faced the music and apologised for Waterford’s showing two weeks ago in the Munster final was front and centre after yesterday’s game as well.

John Mullane had endured a nightmare against Tipperary but he and his colleagues crushed Galway in Semple Stadium, a return to form which may in time be termed the Great Rehabilitation.

Mullane had the supporters in mind again.

“The victory was for them more than anyone else,” said Mullane.

“We left them down two weeks ago and thankfully we got a victory for them and a good performance, too.

“The first week was difficult. But we just wanted to get out there as soon as possible to rectify everything, and we did.”

His clubmate Kevin Moran was the general choice as man of the match.

The big man from De La Salle had owned the left-hand-side of the field and threw back wave after wave of Galway attacks. He said there was no great secret to the turnaround in their form.

“We got back training straight away and we worked hard and thankfully it paid off,” said Moran. “We said we’d keep fighting, and keep working, and it paid off.

“We just performed — it was pleasing the way we know we’re capable of, we let the result take care of itself.”

Moran managed one last sidestep when asked about their semi-final opponents, Kilkenny: “I’m sure Davy will have something organised for that — we’ll talk about that during the week.”

One of the last Waterford players off the field was Tony Browne, who paid tribute to his colleagues’ fighting spirit.

“It’s a good day for Waterford, we got a lot of criticism after the last day and we were up against it coming up.

“We had our backs to the wall but we came out fighting and we deserved our victory.”

He conceded the Déise defence had been better than the Tipp display, but he placed that defeat in context.

“Look, those kinds of things happen in hurling. A lot of breaks went against us the last day (against Tipperary) but that day is gone, it’s over.

“We’re at the same stage as Tipperary and Kilkenny now.

“It was important to bounce back straightaway, and we were lucky we had a game, and a game against a team in form at that.

“It was great to get back out there and open up a little bit.

“We’re up against it but we’re in the next round at least.”

Waterford’s minors and seniors will line out together in two weeks in the All-Ireland semi-final, an event Browne is looking forward to with relish: “It’ll be a big day for Waterford hurling. We’re just happy we’re still there.”