FORMER KILKENNY ALL-Ireland winner John Mulhall has returned to inter-county hurling and will play for Kildare in the 2017 National League and Christy Ring Cup competitions.
It is expected that an ex-Tipperary hurler will also join Joe Quaid’s Lilywhite revolution in the coming days, while David Reidy – a member of the Limerick senior panel last year – has also signed transfer forms and confirmed his involvement with Kildare for the year ahead.
But it is the transfer of the colourful Mulhall that will attract headlines for an out-of-the-blue move.
The mercurial St Martin’s man made quite a name for himself for his laid-back manner and unique approach to the game, but there was no doubting his talent and ability to pick points from the wing.
Having won a Leinster minor medal, Mulhall won his first All-Ireland title in 2008 at U21 level.
He made his first appearance for the Kilkenny team during the 2009 Walsh Cup and was a regular impact substitute for Brian Cody over the next two seasons.
Three years later he came on as a substitute for the Cats in their 2011 All-Ireland final 2-17 to 1-16 win over Tipperary.
But Mulhall failed to make the 2012 championship panel and moved on from his Kilkenny senior career with that All-Ireland winners’ medal and two Leinster SH medals.
For the past two years, the 27-year-old has been teaching business and maths in Greenhills College in Dublin. Before that he managed to see part of the world, travelling to Australia, New Zealand and South America.
Now, however, he has answered Quaid’s call to join Kildare. Under official GAA guidelines, introduced in 2006, up to five players from MacCarthy Cup teams are allowed to switch to a county competing in the Christy Ring or Nicky Rackard competitions.
Upon taking the Kildare job last year, Quaid pledged to stick with native hurlers only. They responded well, winning the Kehoe Cup and only missing out on a Christy Ring Cup final appearance by two points.
This year Quaid invited 67 players to try out for the team but only 24 accepted the invitation. After consultation with the players the Kildare manager relented and looked to bring in outside talent.
Quaid explains: “We lost Gerry Keegan, one of the best players in Leinster, who is gone travelling and we are down one or two other big players as well.
“We scoured the county but didn’t get the interest we wanted. So after listening to the players – and they want to win things – we have decided to bring in five outside players.
“All five have already trained with us and there are four transfer forms gone to Croke Park, but hopefully we have one more player left to introduce – but that declaration will be in his own time.
“Those lads have already given the place a lift.
“John is the most laid-back man in the country. He turned up for his first training session wearing a Christmas jumper and a pair of shorts that you would be afraid to wear on a beach and he went home with a big tub of protein powder.
“The lads already love him. He is a serious hurler and he wants to hurl, he has bags of ability in him and we welcome him.”
Kildare were beaten by a point by Meath last weekend in the Walsh Cup, but one of those outside players Limerick’s David Reidy (from the Dromin-Athlacca club) did impress.
Last March, Reidy won a Fitzgibbon Cup medal with Mary Immaculate College as he hit 0-3 in their final win over UL.
“Three years ago David was on the list of the top young hurlers in the country to look out for,” Quaid adds.
“He didn’t make the Limerick squad this year but he is going to be a huge asset to us. His brother Mike, is living in Kildare already and he was on the Limerick senior squad too.
“He will be travelling up and down to West Limerick for work but will make a huge commitment for the year ahead. Dinny Stapleton from the Sean Treacy’s club in Tipperary is also with us.”
It is expected that another Tipperary player, this time one with senior championship experience will also join the panel this weekend but out of courtesy to the player, Quaid said he would not yet discuss his inclusion as it had not been fully cemented.
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Serious atmosphere here in Cavan. This is exactly where you want to be playing the All Ireland Champions. Whatever the result these games against the top 4 will stand to us in the summer months
It’s exactly the gate the county board needed as well
Mind blowing that people would actually travel to watch that rubbish sport.
@Ordinary lad: the much “hyped” Irish Rugby team lost yesterday. How much money do those lads earn?
Mind blowing that someone would take the time to open an article about a sport they consider to be ‘rubbish’ and then take the time to comment on it.
How can a team that receives €120k in funding compete against a team that receives €1.4million
Hahaha give over Al . Deep down you love the gaa
@Alan b..: Sure all the money we’ll be spending here we’ll double that funding for you pal ;)
a decent workout so far get rid of the Jamaican rum and redstripe against another nordie team who’s sole intention is to pull drag and hit off the ball.
Don’t know what game your watching. The hits off the ball have been 50:50.
Eh cavan is in the south of Ireland Einstein
fergal reilly should count himself lucky to share a pitch with these wonderful dublin footballers instead of going around like a drunk at a wedding looking for a fight.
That was stared by the Dublin man on the ground. You’re incredibly anti ulster football
And then mdma was the first man to get involved.
And who look for a figth at a wedding
ah lorcan stop it now.
fergal reilly would.
it’s north of me ya tit
@Alan b..: that explains why the dubs were late they looked at a map and headed north. When did this geographical transplant take place.
don’t be a tit like alan cavan play in ulster which is up north so they are nordies.
Cavan is not in Northern Ireland you don’t cross the border or use sterling
I didn’t say it was in Northern Ireland .
What do you mean by nordie then?if you are calling them that cos they’re north of you does that mean someone from cork would class Dublin as a nordie team
if they wanted to yes beacuse they would be northern to a Cork person now cavan is in ulster and part of the Republic of Ireland beacuse the brits didn’t want the kip so yes you are nordies which we where stuck with.
Stop you’re just embarrassing yourself
What part of Dublin are you from?
what difference does it make?
cavan play in the ulster champions with the other 8 nordie counties it’s no big deal just accept it is the way it is don’t be embarrassed alan.
All the complaints about dublins fans. Have any other county brought a few thousand fans with them today ?
@Gavin Byrne: In comparison Dublin have a fan base of about 10 times what other counties have. So of course they will bring large numbers with them.
Fair play today they really brought a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of money to Cavan town today
That a few time in the last three years the cavan has been delayed because of the fans.
If the dubs can’t make it to croke park on time how do you expect them to make it to cavan on time
@Lorcán Coyle: Should know by now that nothing in Cavan ever starts on time, nearest fifteen minutes, sure that’ll do.!!!
Ref jersey looks too like Dubs
We’ll save that excuse for later
Massive achievement if Roscommon can some how stay up in Division 1.
Lorcan are u watching the match