WATERFORD HURLER JOHN Mullane has announced his retirement from the inter-county game.
In an official statement released this evening, through the Gaelic Player’s Association, Mullane’s departure was confirmed.
There had been speculation over the future of the De La Salle player in recent weeks but Waterford manager Michael Ryan had expressed optimism that the player would be involved this year.
Yet the 31 year-old has opted to hang up his boots after a career that saw him win four Munster senior hurling medals and one National League medal with the county.
A coveted All-Ireland medal eluded the attacker but he proved to be one of the leading attackers in the game as he won five Allstar awards in 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Mullane’s statement read:
“I wish to announce my retirement from inter-county hurling. After months of deliberation I feel the time is right to bring the curtain down on my inter-county career.
“The sense of genuine pride I got from wearing the Waterford jersey and representing the county I love will live with me forever.
“Throughout those 13 years I was fortunate enough to play with some great players. I would like to thank all the players sincerely for their support and more importantly their friendship.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to extend a big thank you to my coaches, managers, medical and backroom team and all of the friends I have made throughout my career on and off the field.
“Gerald McCarthy, Justin McCarthy, Davy Fitzgerald and Michael Ryan all contributed greatly to my career and I benefitted immensely from all of them.
“My relationship with the Waterford supporters has always been a very special one and I sincerely thank them for their support in both good and bad times.
“I would like to pay tribute to my club De La Salle for providing me with the necessary solid foundations and guidance to allow me to compete at the highest level and I look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.
“In conclusion I wish to thank my family and my wife Stephanie for their loyalty and support over the years. I look forward to supporting Waterford for the years ahead and would like to wish the current management and team the very best for the coming season.
“Deise Abú”
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Great hurler never gave up
Great player, he’ll be badly missed in the Waterford setup.
One of the great players of the modern era, a wholehearted guy who never left anything on the pitch. Anyone who doesn’t recognise that John Mullane will be a huge loss to hurling & not just Waterford hurling knows nothing about the game. & as someone who had had the pleasure of John’s company a number of times, I can say that despite the head on him he is a total gentleman & a genuine nice guy. We’ll miss you.
As much as I hated him, I’ll miss seeing him on the pitch. Gave Cork some great battles and the man certainly wasn’t lacking heart!
He is a thug … Nothing more….
You know fcuk all…nothing more.
He may be a thug but he played a great game.
You are a know nothing idiot. Define thug please?? If you can’t recognised talent, determination and will to win, then don’t comment.
I agree with you. I can’t stand him.
Great player..and Im from Cork. Shame that he never got All Ireland medal.
A huge loss to the game, a player I always admired and enjoyed watching. Played with his heart on his sleeve and contributed so much in games.
Legend of the game
Still one of the top six forwards in the country massive loss.
Tony Browne still reporting for duty.
He deserved to win several all Irelands. Great shame he didn’t win any – along with Browne he was Waterford’s best player in recent decades and always gave his all to the cause.
He will be missed, his love for the game showed every time he pulled on the jersey, thanks for all those great moments John!
Not a hurling fan myself, but just watching big John punch the air after been awarded a free or scoring a point was something to behold. A very passionate player who brought so much colour to the game, will be missed !!
As a Clare hurling fan I who has been fortunate to see this great hurler play many times, we won a few and Waterford won a few. Mullane may have been the beneficiary of much Clare ire but any true hurling fan would recognise the skill of this man and the character that he brings to the game..
Certainly no other hurler in the last 20 years maybe with the exception of his countyman tony Browne deserve to have won an all Ireland..
I agree with most of that but surely ken mcgrath,fergal hartley,sean cullinane and of course paul flynn deserved an all ireland too.a great bunch of players.im a limerick fan by the way.
Embodied all that is good in the gaa..and if there was a more passionate hurler,i havent seen him.also happened to be a gifted forward.best of luck to him
Enjoy retirement John , from a dub , who enjoyed watching you play
Huge loss. We won’t see a player of his class play for Waterford for a long time to come. Best of luck John and thanks for all the brilliant days entertainment.
A brilliant wholehearted player who always gave his all a credit to himself his family and the whole of Waterford gaa… He will be missed even by us cork fans!
Another top class player hangs up his boots. There doesn’t seem to be more of their quality coming through
jayjus he was some man for one man and yes its a pity he never won an allreland medal…
A truly great player and deserved an all Ireland medal at least. Rebel Abu’!
fair play to john mullane on a smashin career, an exceptional player and a credit to the game. déise abú!
Great loss absolute legend great to watch him with a stick best a luck whatever he goes at….
brilliant player. Sad to see him go but all the best to him.
Strange enough one of my best memories of him was probably the worst day of all for Waterford , the all Ireland humiliation of 2008 when he never once stopped trying or let his head drop in the face of the worst adversity. those are the days the best stand up and he did
Always hated him, no loss to anyone other than Waterford fans
If you think quality hurlers are not a loss to the game, it shows what you know.
Not a Waterford person but hurling people know what he did for the game.
i cant believe it…a cryi shame he never won all irelands…one of the best most consistant players over the past 10 years… id say its because he wasnt offered d captaincy.
Will be sadly missed by us all in waterford,himself ken McGrath and tony Browne,3 of the best players to never win the all Ireland
And Ciaran Carey limerick, and I’m from tipp
Despite some of his antics he was an absolutely brilliant player. He was so quick it was ridiculous at times. Best of luck to him.
Fine hurler, always knew where the posts were and seriously accurate. Probably the best offensive player outside kilkenny for the last decade. Deserved an all ireland medal along with ciaran carey.
say it aint so john. say it aint so.
What a loss he is to Waterford and with molumphy gone aswell I really can’t see them going anywhere this year
Thanks for all the enjoyment that I got watching you John. I really admired your never say die attitude and of course the fact that you are still a superb hurler.
A load of nonsense – this is corbett-esque by the sounds of it. He’ll be coaxed back and will be startin against clare in the munster c’ship, mark my words. PS: brilliant hurler.much as i hate him!!
Thanks John for all the great days in Turles and beyond. It has been a pleasure watching you over the years.
Best of luck to the man.
Thanks for all the great days a brilliant hurler and outstanding Waterford man with loads of passion for the game and his county .Every county hated him but every county would love to have him in there team. U were some man for one man
Was a great player would have got onto most inter county teams if not all of them good luck on retirement , I’m not a Waterford supporter but you always know what u got from Mullane blood, sweat , badge kissing but dedicated to the cause for 70mins I’d say waterfords best hurler over the last 5 years pity he didn’t win an all star
He won 5?????????????????????????????????????????????
He is a great hurler . Legend ? Not sure about that . I would consider ken mcgrath a legend more so .
Stephen hunt of g a a headless chicken a forward with a 2 point average per game.full of enery but not enough end results e.g points r making them
Fantastic player was in awe of him when he would be running away from the goal and still score a point over his shoulder. There should be a hall of game for players like John
Yeah, about time!!! I was behind the goals with a group of Cork Juveniles when he came and gave us the fingers! Disgusting thug!
Pipe down, them cork “fans” well deserved it…
Absolutely without a shadow of a doubt John Mullane will be back after the League. I have a feeling there is a book on the way and the next few months “retirement” will be a chapter in it. Very similar stunt to what Lar Corbett pulled last year.
I can’t believe he has won 5 all stars so far, he will win another one this year as the media etc. will love the hype of his return. A decent player but extremely over rated in my opinion.