Captaincy link to Mullane exit denied

Waterford manager Michael Ryan has flatly denied suggestions the captaincy of the county team was an issue in John Mullane’s decision to retire from inter-county hurling.

Ryan revealed the pair met for an hour in a Waterford city hotel on Wednesday evening, before Mullane informed him of his decision by phone yesterday.

Ryan paid tribute to the five-time All Star hurler and said the game of hurling will be poorer for his absence.