# John Mullane

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Irish hurler (born 1981)

John Mullane Personal information Native name Seán Ó Maoláin (Irish) Born (1981-01-28) 28 January 1981 (age 45) Waterford Occupation Electrician Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) Sport Sport Hurling Position Right corner forward Club Years Club 1998– De La Salle Club titles Waterford titles 3 Munster titles 2 All-Ireland Titles 0 Inter-county* Years County Apps (scores) 2001–2012 Waterford 47 (15–134) Inter-county titles Munster titles 4 All-Irelands 0 NHL 1 All Stars 5 *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 20:35, 28 October 2012.

**John Mullane** (born 28 January 1981)[1] is an Irish [hurler](/source/Hurling) who previously played as a right corner-forward for the [Waterford](/source/Waterford_GAA) senior team.

Mullane joined the team during the [2001 championship](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Hurling_Championship_2001) and immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen. Since then he has won four [Munster](/source/Munster_Senior_Hurling_Championship) winners' medals, one [National League](/source/National_Hurling_League) winners' medal and five [All Star](/source/GAA_GPA_All_Stars_Awards) awards. Mullane has ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Mullane is a two-time [Munster](/source/Munster_Senior_Club_Hurling_Championship) medalist with [De La Salle](/source/De_La_Salle_GAA). In addition to this he has also won three [county club championship](/source/Waterford_Senior_Hurling_Championship) medals.

Mullane is widely considered one, if not the best player [Waterford](/source/Waterford_GAA) has ever produced. Winning a total of 5 [All-Stars](/source/GAA_GPA_All_Stars_Awards) (a record for a Waterford player), Mullane is also one of the best players ever never to win the [Liam MacCarthy Cup](/source/Liam_MacCarthy_Cup). He is considered a legend of [Waterford](/source/Waterford) due to his passionate displays throughout his career.

## Playing career

### Club

Mullane plays his club hurling with the [De La Salle](/source/De_La_Salle_GAA) club and has enjoyed much success.

After few victories in the minor and under-21 grades, Mullane lined out in his first championship decider in 2005 as De La Salle faced [Ballygunner](/source/Ballygunner_GAA). A narrow 2–10 to 1–12 defeat was Mullane's lot on that occasion.[2]

After a number of years of early exits in the county championship, De La Salle reached the championship final again in 2008. [Abbeyside](/source/Abbeyside_GAA) were the opponents on that occasion and a close game developed. At the final whistle De La Salle were the champions by 0–11 to 0–9 and Mullane collected his first [county championship](/source/Waterford_Senior_Hurling_Championship) medal.[3] De La Salle subsequently represented Waterford in the provincial series and even reached the final. A narrow 1–9 to 0–10 defeat of [Adare](/source/Adare_GAA) gave Mullane a first [Munster](/source/Munster_Senior_Club_Hurling_Championship) medal.[4] Mullane's side later reached the All-Ireland decider where [Portumna](/source/Portumna_GAA) provided the opposition. De La Salle were well beaten on that occasion by 2–24 to 1–8.[5]

After surrendering their county and provincial titles in 2009, De La Salle bounced back the following year to reach the county final once again. A 3–13 to 1–11 defeat of Ballygunner gave Mullane a second championship medal.[6] He later added a second Munster medal to his collection following a one-point defeat of [Thurles Sarsfield's](/source/Thurles_Sarsfields_GAA).[7]

Two years later Mullane won a third county championship medal as De La Salle trounced [Dungarvan](/source/Dungarvan_GAA) by 1–21 to 0–12 in the county final.[8]

### Inter-county

Mullane began his inter-county career as a member of the Waterford minor and under-21 hurling team in the late nineties, however, he had little success in these grades.

His senior championship debut for his native-county came in the first round of the provincial championship in 2001 against [Limerick](/source/Limerick_GAA). After a lightning start to the game, Mullane disappointingly had to leave the field after pulling his hamstring. Limerick went on to win the game.

In 2002 Mullane claimed his first [Munster](/source/Munster_Senior_Hurling_Championship) winners' medal as Waterford defeated Tipperary by 2–23 to 3–12 to claim the provincial crown for the first time in thirty-nine years.[9]

Waterford set out to defend their Munster title and build on their success in 2003. [Cork](/source/Cork_GAA), however, had other ideas. In that game Mullane became one of the very few players to have scored a hat-trick of goals in a Munster hurling final, however, Waterford still lost the match. His side were later defeated by [Wexford](/source/Wexford_GAA) in the All-Ireland qualifiers. In spite of a disappointing season, Mullane won his first [All Star](/source/GAA_GPA_All_Stars_Awards) award.

2004 saw Waterford qualify for a third successive Munster final with Cork providing the opposition once again. Described as the game that had everything Waterford beat Cork by 3–16 to 1–21 to win one of the greatest games of hurling ever played. The game was not without incident for Mullane. Only a few minutes into the second-half of the game the referee noticed an "off the ball incident" between Cork's [Brian Murphy](/source/Brian_Murphy_(hurler%2C_born_1982)) and Mullane. After consultation with the linesman, the referee decided to send off Mullane. This was deemed to be the pivotal moment in the match. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Waterford take on a wounded Kilkenny team. In spite of this 'the Cats' were the winners by 3–12 to 0–18.

The following two years brought little success for Mullane and Waterford. In 2005 and 2006 they reached the All-Ireland knock-out series, however, they were beaten on both occasions by Cork.

In 2007 Mullane added a [National Hurling League](/source/National_Hurling_League) medal to his collection when Waterford defeated Kilkenny by 0–20 to 0–18 in the final.[10] He later claimed a third Munster winners' medal as Waterford defeated [Limerick](/source/Limerick_GAA) by 3–17 to 1–14 in the provincial decider.[11] While Waterford were viewed as possibly going on and winning the All-Ireland title for the first time in almost half a century, Limerick ambushed Mullane's side in the All-Ireland semi-final. Mullane himself was largely disappointing in this game having had a virus for several weeks leading up to the game.

2008 began poorly for Waterford as the team lost their opening game to [Clare](/source/Clare_GAA) as well as their manager [Justin McCarthy](/source/Justin_McCarthy_(hurler)). In spite of this poor start Mullane's side reached the All-Ireland final for the first time in forty-five years. Kilkenny provided the opposition and went on to trounce Waterford by 3–30 to 1–13 to claim a third All-Ireland title in-a-row.[12]

In spite of another disappointing season in 2009, Mullane finished off the year by collecting a second All Star award.

Mullane lined out in another Munster final in 2010 with Cork providing the opposition. A 2–15 apiece draw was the result on that occasion, however, Waterford went on to win the replay after an extra-time goal by [Dan Shanahan](/source/Dan_Shanahan). It was a fourth Munster winners' medal for Mullane, a record that he shares with five other Waterford players. He later collected a third All Star award.

Waterford faced back-to-back defeats by Tipperary in the Munster finals if 2011 and 2012. In spite of these disappointments Mullane collected his fourth and fifth All Star awards.

In January 2013 Mullane announced his retirement from inter county hurling declaring that

I just felt in the end that mentally it just broke me – I had enough. Physically I feel I could have gone on for another year or two, but mentally I'd had enough.

[13][14][15]

### Inter-provincial

Mullane has also lined out with [Munster](/source/Munster_GAA) in the inter-provincial hurling championship on a number of occasions. He was captain of the side in 2007 when he won his sole [Railway Cup](/source/Railway_Cup) medal following a 2–22 to 2–19 defeat of [Connacht](/source/Connacht_GAA).[16]

## Television and Radio

In 2014, Mullane made appearances on [RTÉ2](/source/RT%C3%892)'s 3rd season of [Second Captains Live](/source/Second_Captains_Live). Each week Mullane presented a modern-day version of "The Skills of Hurling", a show from the late 1970s which featured a young [Brian Cody](/source/Brian_Cody) and other players from that era. Some of the 'skills' Mullane included were, 'Celebrating Winning a Free', 'The Shoulder Welcome', 'The Championship Haircut' and 'The Tunnel Sprint'.

Since 2017 he has been co commentating major hurling matches on [RTÉ Radio 1](/source/RT%C3%89_Radio_1).

## Career statistics

### Club

Team Year Munster All-Ireland Total Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score De La Salle 2008-09 2 1-07 2 0-06 4 1-13 2010-11 2 0-10 1 0-11 3 0-21 2012-13 2 0-03 0 0-00 2 0-03 Total 6 1-20 3 0-17 9 1-37

### Inter-county

Team Year National League Championship Total Division Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score Waterford 2001 Division 1B 6 1-11 1 0-01 7 1-12 2002 Division 1A 4 0-01 3 0-06 7 0-07 2003 1 0-03 3 4-07 4 4-10 2004 9 1-23 3 1-06 12 2-29 2005 8 2-17 5 1-15 13 3-32 2006 6 1-14 6 2-17 12 3-31 2007 6 1-12 5 1-11 11 2-23 2008 6 3-13 5 2-21 11 5-34 2009 Division 1 2 0-06 5 1-17 7 1-23 2010 5 0-09 4 0-13 9 0-22 2011 2 0-04 4 3-12 6 3-16 2012 Division 1A 2 0-04 3 0-08 5 0-12 Total 57 9-117 47 15-134 104 24-251

## Honours

### Team

**De La Salle**

- [Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship](/source/Munster_Senior_Club_Hurling_Championship) (2): 2008 (c), 2010

- [Waterford Senior Club Hurling Championship](/source/Waterford_Senior_Club_Hurling_Championship) (3): 2008 (c), 2010, 2012

**Waterford**

- [Munster Senior Hurling Championship](/source/Munster_Senior_Hurling_Championship) (4): [2002](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Hurling_Championship_2002#Munster_Senior_Hurling_Championship), [2004](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Hurling_Championship_2004#Munster_Senior_Hurling_Championship), [2007](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Hurling_Championship_2007#Munster_Senior_Hurling_Championship), [2010](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Hurling_Championship_2010#Munster_Senior_Hurling_Championship)

- [National Hurling League](/source/National_Hurling_League) (1): [2007](/source/2007_National_Hurling_League)

**Munster**

- [Inter-provincial Championship](/source/Railway_Cup) (1): 2007(c)

### Individual

- [All Stars](/source/List_of_All_Stars_Awards_winners_(hurling)) (5): 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

## In popular culture

A John Mullane flag was spotted flying at Glastonbury Music Festival 2025. Captioned "I Love me Flag".[17]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Club Déise » Player Profiles"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090424075815/http://www.clubdeise.com/?page_id=46). Archived from [the original](http://www.clubdeise.com/?page_id=46) on 24 April 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Flynn's late magic keeps Gunners firing"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/waterford-flynns-late-magic-keeps-gunners-firing-235978.html). Irish Independent. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Murphy, John (10 November 2008). ["Gallant De La Salle end 90-year title agony"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/arid-10076953.html). Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Mullane basks in De La Salle euphoria"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/mullane-basks-in-de-la-salle-euphoria-1558874.html). Irish Independent. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** O'Flynn, Diarmuid (18 March 2009). ["Portumna the team of all talents"](http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/idqlauojql/). Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Kirwan, Eddie (29 October 2010). ["Two out of three ain't bad for rampant De La Salle"](http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-hurling/two-out-of-three-ain%E2%80%99t-bad-for-rampant-de-la-salle/). The Munster Express. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Munster club glory for De La Salle"](http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/munster-club-glory-for-de-la-salle-483616.html). Breaking News website. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Moynihan, Michael (15 October 2012). ["Bigger tests loom for rampant De La Salle"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20210864.html). Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Breheny, Martin (1 July 2002). ["Waterford wonders whip Tipp with awesome display"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/waterford-wonders-whip-tipp-with-awesome-display-298042.html). [Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent). Retrieved 2 August 2012.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Breheny, Martin (4 May 2007). ["Waterford end 44-year faminewith National League title"](http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-hurling/waterford-end-44-year-faminewith-national-league-title/). Munster Express. Retrieved 2 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Breheny, Martin (9 July 2007). ["Dynamic Dan adds some extra dash for the Déise"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/dynamic-dan-adds-some-extra-dash-for-the-dise-995588.html). [Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent). Retrieved 2 August 2012.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 3–30 Waterford 1–13"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2008/0907/237822-kilkenny_waterford/). [RTÉ Sport](/source/RT%C3%89_Sport). 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Game broke me mentally – Mullane"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/game-broke-me-mentally-mullane-3357474.html). *[Independent.ie](/source/Irish_Independent)*. Retrieved 19 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["John Mullane retires from inter-county hurling with Waterford"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2013/0117/363282-mullane-hangs-up-his-hurley/). *RTÉ Sport*. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["John Mullane announces his retirement"](http://thescore.thejournal.ie/john-mullane-waterford-758702-Jan2013/). *The Score*. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["RTÉ Sport: Munster 2–22 Connacht 2–19"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2007/1027/224287-interpro/). [RTÉ Sport](/source/RT%C3%89_Sport). 28 October 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["john mullane flag spotted flying at glastonbury"](https://www.waterford-news.ie/news/john-mullane-flag-spotted-flying-at-glastonbury_arid-62972.html). *Waterford news&star*. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

Sporting positions Preceded by Eddie Brennan (Leinster) Interprovincial Hurling Final winning captain 2007 Succeeded by Tommy Walsh (Leinster)

v t e De La Salle – 2009 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship runners-up 1 S. Brenner 2 A. Kelly 3 I. Flynn 4 M. Doherty 5 D. Russell 6 K. Moran 7 S. Daniels 8 B. Phelan 9 C. Watt 10 P. Nevin 11 D. McGrath 12 L. Hayes 13 D. Twomey 14 J. Mullane (c) 15 D. Greene Subs used B. Farrell for L. Hayes T. Kearney for D. McGrath J. Quirke for B. Farrell A. O'Neill for C. Watt D. Dooley for D. Twomey

v t e Waterford – 2004 Munster Senior Hurling Champions (7th title) 1 S. Brenner 2 E. Murphy 3 J. Murray 4 D. Prendergast 5 B. Phelan 6 K. McGrath (Capt.) 7 T. Browne 8 D. Bennett 9 E. McGrath 10 E. Kelly 11 D. Shanahan 12 M. Walsh 13 J. Mullane 14 S. Prendergast 15 P. Flynn Subs 19 P. O'Brien for Bennett 23 S. O'Sullivan for McGrath 20 J. Kennedy for O'Brien Subs not used 16 I. O'Regan 17 T. Feeney 18 B. Wall 21 A. Moloney 22 L. Lawlor 24 D. O'Brien 25 S. Ryan 26 G. Quinlan 27 D. Coffey 28 J. Wall 29 A. Kirwan 30 W. Hutchinson Manager J. McCarthy Selectors S. Hannon N. Cashin K. Ryan

v t e Waterford – 2007 National Hurling League Champions (2nd title) 1 C. Hennessy 2 A. Kearney 3 E. Murphy 4 D. Prendergast 5 T. Browne 6 K. McGrath 7 J. Murray 8 M. Walsh (Capt.) 9 J. Kennedy 10 D. Shanahan 11 E. Kelly 12 S. Molumphy 13 S. Walsh 14 S. Prendergast 15 J. Mullane Substitutes P. Flynn for S. Walsh E. McGrath for J. Murray S. O'Sullivan for J. Kennedy Manager J. McCarthy Selectors S. Hannon N. Cashin M. Ryan

v t e Waterford – 2007 Munster Senior Hurling Champions (8th title) 1 C. Hennessy 2 A. Kearney 3 K. Moran 4 E. Murphy 5 T. Browne 6 D. Prendergast 7 K. McGrath 8 M. Walsh (Capt.) 9 S. Molumphy 10 S. Prendergast 11 D. Shanahan 12 P. Flynn 13 J. Mullane 14 E. Kelly 15 J. Kennedy Subs 17 J. Murray for Moran 20 E. McGrath for Kennedy Subs not used 16 B. O'Leary 18 B. Phelan 19 T. Feeney 21 D. Bennett 22 D. Coffey 23 S. O'Sullivan 24 R. Foley 25 K. Stafford 26 J. Nagle 27 N. Jacob 28 J. Hartley 29 S. Walsh 30 C. Carey Manager J. McCarthy Selectors S. Hannon N. Cashin M. Ryan

v t e Waterford – 2008 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship finalist 1 C. Hennessy 2 E. Murphy 3 D. Prendergast 4 A. Kearney 5 T. Browne 6 K. McGrath 7 K. Moran 8 M. Walsh (c) 9 J. Nagle 10 D. Shanahan 11 S. Prendergast 12 S. Molumphy 13 E. McGrath 14 E. Kelly 15 J. Mullane Subs used 17 J. Kennedy for S. Prendergast 18 P. Flynn for E. McGrath 19 S. O'Sullivan for J. Nagle 21 D. Bennett for D. Shanahan 25 T. Feeney for D. Prendergast Subs not used 16 A. Power 20 G. Hurney 22 R. Foley 23 B. Phelan 24 J. Murray 26 W. Hutchinson 27 S. Walsh 28 P. FitzGerald 29 P. Kearney 30 D. Coffey Manager D. FitzGerald Selectors P. Queally M. Geary

v t e Waterford – 2010 Munster Senior Hurling Champions (9th title) 1 C. Hennessy 2 E. Murphy 3 L. Lawlor 4 N. Connors 5 T. Browne 6 M. Walsh 7 D. Prendergast 8 S. O'Sullivan 9 R. Foley 10 K. Moran 11 S. Molumphy (Capt.) 12 E. Kelly 13 J. Mullane 14 S. Walsh 18 S. Prendergast Subs 27 B. O'Halloran for S. Prendergast 23 M. Shanahan for S. Walsh 17 J. Nagle for Lawlor 21 D. Shanahan for Mullane 15 E. McGrath for Molumphy Subs not used 16 A. Power 19 J. Maher 20 K. McGrath 22 M. O'Brien 24 S. Fives 25 S. Casey 26 J. Murray 28 B. Phelan 29 O. Whelan 30 Philip Mahony Manager D. FitzGerald Selectors P. Fanning P. Bennett

v t e 2003 All-Star Hurling Team 1 B. Cummins 2 M. Kavanagh 3 N. Hickey 4 O. Canning 5 S. Óg Ó hAilpín 6 R. Curran 7 J. J. DelaneyHOTY 8 D. Lyng 9 T. Walsh 10 J. Mullane 11 H. Shefflin 12 E. Brennan 13 S. Ó hAilpín 14 M. Comerford 15 J. Deane

v t e 2009 All-Stars Hurling Team 1 P. J. Ryan 2 O. Canning 3 P. Maher 4 J. Tyrrell 5 T. WalshHOTY 6 M. Walsh 7 C. O'Mahony 8 M. Rice 9 A. McCrabbe 10 L. Corbett 11 H. Shefflin 12 E. Larkin 13 N. McGrath 14 J. Canning 15 J. Mullane

v t e 2010 All-Stars Hurling Team 1 B. Cummins 2 N. Connors 3 P. Curran 4 J. Tyrrell 5 T. Walsh 6 M. Walsh 7 J. J. Delaney 8 B. Maher 9 M. Fennelly 10 D. Hayes 11 N. McGrath 12 L. CorbettHOTY 13 J. Mullane 14 R. Power 15 E. Kelly

v t e 2011 All-Stars Hurling Team 1 G. Maguire 2 P. Murphy 3 P. Curran 4 M. Cahill 5 T. Walsh 6 B. Hogan 7 P. Maher 8 L. Rushe 9 M. FennellyHOTY 10 M. Rice 11 R. Power 12 H. Shefflin 13 J. Mullane 14 L. Corbett 15 R. Hogan

v t e 2012 All-Stars Hurling Team 1 A. Nash 2 P. Murphy 3 J. J. Delaney 4 F. Moore 5 B. Bugler 6 B. Hogan 7 D. Collins 8 I. Tannian 9 K. Moran 10 T. J. Reid 11 H. ShefflinHOTY 12 D. Hayes 13 J. Mullane 14 J. Canning 15 D. Burke

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Mullane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mullane) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mullane?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.