Ryan hopeful Mullane will give it a final shot for Waterford

Waterford hurling boss Michael Ryan says he’s optimistic that forward ace John Mullane won’t call time on his inter-county career for another year at least.

Ryan has already lost two members of his attacking set-up – Eoin Kelly and Eoin McGrath – to retirement.

And now five-time All Star Mullane is a worry after claiming he is seriously considering his future at the top level.

Mullane will be 32 later this month and he has been featuring for the Waterford senior hurlers since back in 2001.

“The level of commitment that’s required from an inter-county player now is unreal and I thought that 2012 was going to be the final year for me,” said Mullane, who is married with two young children.

“I’ve had so many great years with Waterford but you need to be fully motivated, you need to enjoy what you’re doing.

“I’m not the kind of fella who can go into something without being 100 per cent committed. If I don’t feel 100 per cent right within myself, I won’t do it – it’s all or nothing.

But despite Mullane’s comments, Ryan says he expects to be able to call once again on the star attacker for this year’s campaign.

“I’d be optimistic that John Mullane will give it a go for another year,” said Ryan who is heading into his second year in the hot seat.

“We will be having a chat in the near future with John and we’ll take it from there.”

Probably largely fuelling Ryan’s optimism is the fact that Mullane put his shoulder to the Waterford wheel in 2012 despite opting out of the Waterford Crystal Cup and the first three matches of the Allianz League programme against Cork , Kilkenny and Tipperary before returning for the fourth round tie against Galway on March 25.

If the prolific scorer opts to take a time-out of similar duration this year, he will miss the first three League fixtures against Clare, Cork and Kilkenny before making himself available for the final two outings against Tipperary on March 24 and Galway on March 31.

In addition to the uncertainty over Mullane’s future, Ryan says he doesn’t know if 39-year-old Tony Browne will commit to the Deise cause for yet another year.

“We will be having a talk with Tony within the next few weeks to see what his plans are,” said the Waterford boss on the Mount Sion clubman who will be 40 next July.

But a major boost for Ryan is that half-forward Seamus Prendergast, who was 33 on New Year’s Day, will be available.