- Over-rated
- Under-rated
- Correctly rated
0 voters
A great of the game and a bit of character to go with it, under-rated in my view.
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A brilliant forward
Perfected the “find an outstretched arm,grab it and dive for the free” manoeuvre so beloved of numerous snidey shnakey bastards today.
A pioneer.
It was a shame for Waterford that they never had Flynn, Dan and Mullane all firing on all cylinders at the same time. Flynn was as good a forward as there was in the game from 98 til 2004 but his form stated to dip after that as he went past 30 and his lack of physical prep caught up to him.
Dan only started finding form in 2004 which he kept til 2007 and again his form dipped rapidly after that, again after he was the wrong side of 30.
While Mullane always threatened to be a quality forward he was as likely to get a petulant red card as he was to score a hatrick and up until around 2008 most top corner backs would have fancied their chances holding him. But from 2008 onwards he put 4 or 5 years back to back where he would routinely put up huge scores from play. Think he won 4 or 5 all stars on the trot around the end of the 00s into the 10s.
Still I suppose it is some consolation that they had an excellent marquee forward every year for the bones of 15 seasons.
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Not a goal threat at all which is a huge black mark. His standard snap a loose ball wheel away and shoot was very effective and looked good but had he that many more strings to his bow. Plus the temperment issues. I dont think he would have had too long a stint under cody. Great free wheeling style but you wouldn’t pick him over eddie brennan or even conor whelan for all ireland final day.
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He was one of the very few players to develop a second side of some sorts at the age of 28 or whatever. I can’t recall many developing it at that age.
Mullane was a fantastic hurler.
You have to appreciate that he’d have done anything for his county. The likes of Dowling had for more talent but wouldn’t stop eating snack boxes for his county.
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I never feared Eoin Kelly on championship day but always respected him but John Mullane terrified me every single time the ball went near him. Completely unmarkable some days a superb hurler and was the main difference between Waterford and Limerick for years, a great character(the two fingers to the Cork terrace and 3 goals to go along with it after an hour of dogs abuse from them) gifted.
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In fairness Mullane got one petulant red card in a career. Thats not bad. Cc @Big_Dan_Campbell
As regards the outstretched arm my memory was that he was as likely to have a free given against him than get one. Referees had his card marked as a bad boy from early on. Cc @flattythehurdler
As regards the goal threat he scored three in the 2003 Munster Final against Cork. Cc @maroonandwhite
He was an absolute head case when he was younger and I suspect he was bullied horribly in school. But he worked and worked at his game when the likes of Cody would have fucked him aside and he made himself a national institution when the money would have been on him being dead in a ditch by the age of 30.
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Dynamite and went off like it as well, but boy he was good
He also stood up to be counted in the 2008 final unlike any of his teammates
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Always did it for de la salle too. Proper player.
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Your right but there was a perception in the first few years on the scene that he could be goaded into it and plenty of lads didn’t spare trying to wind him
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The Cork terrace loved Mullane, that abuse was disguised endearment, we’d have loved to have him on our side, I can’t think of many other hurlers that were so popular with the Cork support
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He was a great player.
Ridiculous pace and a reliable finisher. He’d routinely put up big scores from play in almost every game and be fouled for a few pointed frees on top of that.
At his peak he was brilliant, there was a buzz in the crowd when he burst through at pace. And dread among the opposition. That late goal in 2011 was crushing. Destroyed us in the replay in 2009 too.
He was a marked man from an early age but gave as good as he got. He regularly had defenders hanging out of him but bar the Munster final 2004 red card he was never really involved in anything too bad from what I can remember. After that unfortunate incident with the young lad from Mullinavat when he was young himself he seemed to calm down and cop himself on. He had the hurling to keep him on the straight and narrow.
Hard not to like him when he is on the radio on match days. Just pure bubbly and giddy about the sport, irrespective of who is playing.
Plus any man who gives the finger to thousands of Cork fans has to be an alright sort.
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Ah will you stop “MULLANE YOU FUCKING ALBINO CUNT” “SUNSHINE SUNSHINE” & TINKERS BASTARD" were not terms of endearment, plenty of tramps in the Cork terraces on the big game days & they are no different to sections of the Limerick, Tipp & Clare crowd or any inter county following.
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I actually think he may have been underrated. Top top class forward, arguably the best corner-forward I’ve ever seen.
A class act and a great character of the game.
Absolutely. Giving the terrace the bird cemented that
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