Another Déise great calls it a day.

The news that John Mullane has decided to retire from Inter County Hurling at the age of 31 is something that will sadden many not just in Waterford but in all areas around the world where people have an interest in hurling reside.

The news that the De La Salle man has retired from inter county hurling is something that will not come as a surprise to many as some had a feeling after seeing John go to the Waterford Supporters inside Semple Stadium after Waterford bowed out of the 2012 championship that he would not be back in 2013.

An ever present in the Waterford set up since making his debut against Limerick in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, John quickly became a firm favourite with the Déise supporters and with hurling supporters in general.

After breaking into the Waterford team he helped his county win their first Munster Final since 1963 in 2002 and went on to add further Munster Final medals to his collection in 2004, 2007 and 2010 as well as winning a National League medal in 2007. He also won five All-Stars in his time as a Waterford hurler.

Unlike many hurlers of the modern era, John Mullane was never a regular on Waterford underage teams. He was what many would describe as a late developer and began to make a name for himself in his late teens. A perfect example if you want to call it that, to any young hurler who often finds himself over looked when it comes to the selection of underage teams of what could happen if they keep working away at their game.

Selected at right corner forward in his senior championship debut by then Waterford manager Gerald McCarthy, in the opening quarter of the game he caused consternation in the Limerick defence but had to retire early after he picked up an injury.

He played in his first Munster Final in 2002 which Waterford won 2-23 to 3-12 against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and twelve months later Waterford were back in the final, this time against Cork at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

In the 2003 decider, the De La Salle man became one of only a hand fist of players to score a hat trick of goals in a Munster final but still finished on the loosing side. The year however would end on a high for Mullane as despite going out of the All-Ireland series against Wexford, he done enough over the course of the year to win the first of his five All-Star awards.

Waterford were back in the final again in 2004 again against Cork at Thurles. This game is widely regarded by many as the greatest Munster Final of all time. Although Waterford won the game 3-16 to 1-21, the game ended in a disappointing not for John as only minutes into the second half he was sent off for an off the ball incident involving Cork corner back Brian Murphy.

Waterford minus John Mullane in the team took on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi final, the Nore-siders having to reach this stage of the competition through the ‘Back Door’ after Wexford beat them in the Leinster Final, but on their return to the Jones’ Road venue ran out winners on a 3-12 to 0-18 scoreline.

Over the next two years John Mullane and Waterford had little success but they bounced back in 2007 with a bang.

A National League was captured; the first since 1963 was captured in early summer when Waterford beat Kilkenny 0-20 to 0-18 at Thurles.

Waterford beat Limerick in the Munster Final later in the summer on a 3-17 to 1-14 scoreline, having beat Cork in the semi final some weeks earlier. This was the year that Cork were short a number of their most crucial players after they picked up suspensions as a result of the famous “Semple Gate” incident against Clare in the quarter finals of the championship.

Waterford played the rebels again later in the summer in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals. The sides played out a 3-16 to 3-16 draw at the end of July and a week later when the sides clashed for the third time in the championship in the year, Waterford won out 2-17 to 0-20.

Waterford had just a week’s break before they played Limerick in the All-Ireland semi final. Having to play three big games in successive weeks took a lot out of the team and the Shannon-siders won the game 5-11 to 2-15.

The 2008 championship began with Waterford loosing to Clare which was followed by the removing of Justin McCarthy as team manager. Former Clare goal keeper Davy Fitzgerald was brought in to replace him and he lead the side to Croke Park on All-Ireland final day through the qualifiers but the Déise side lost 3-30 to 1-13 with John Mullane one of a few Waterford players that could say he was entirely happy with his performance on the day.

Waterford were back in another Munster Final in 2009 in which Tipperary came out on top through the qualifiers Waterford reached the All-Ireland semi final where Kilkenny again came out on top, this time on a 2-23 to 3-15 scoreline, but the year again ended on a high for the De La Salle man as he won his second All-Star award.

The De La Salle man won his fourth Munster Final medal in 2010. Waterford and Cork reached the provincial final at Thurles, which ended in stalemate. The replay was played the following Saturday evening again in Thurles where it became the first Munster Senior Hurling Final to be completed using the lighting at Semple Stadium.

After seventy minutes, the sides could still not be separated and in extra time Waterford lost John Mullane with an Injury. However his replacement Dan Shanahan proved to be the Waterford hero hitting the extra time winning goal.

In the All-Ireland semi final Waterford met Tipperary who won the game 3-19 to 1-18 after which Liam Sheedy’s men went on to beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

2011 saw Waterford contest another Munster Final, this time against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Confidence was high going into this game amongst many of the Waterford support. Waterford hit nineteen points in this game, a tally often good enough to win many games, but Tipperary also managed to hit nineteen points and added seven goals to it to record one of the most one sided Munster Final results in three decades.

Waterford recovered after this defeat with a good win over Galway in the All-Ireland quarter final, but Kilkenny were again waiting for Waterford in the long grass and recorded a 2-19 to 1-16 victory.

2012 saw Waterford make the journey Leeside for another Munster Final for Waterford and John Mullane. The defeat of 2011 to the same opposition was on the back of the minds of many of Waterford Supporters heading into this game who hoped that the same thing would not happen.

Waterford put in a much better display in 2012 but lost the game 2-17 to 0-16. Next up for Waterford was Cork in the All-Ireland quarter finals at Thurles. Waterford lost the game 1-19 to 0-19, John Mullane’s 49^th and last Championship game in the white and blue shirt of Waterford.

While John Mullane may have called a day to his inter county career, no doubt we will see him in the white and red of De La Salle for some time to come and see him add to the three County and two Munster medals that he has on his sideboard and hopefully it wont be too long till we see him do what he does best in Croke Park and that before he hangs up his hurley for good we will see him climb the steps of the Hogan Stand after an All-Ireland Final.

John Mullane’s Honours to date.

1 National League Medal: (2007)

2 Munster Senior Club hurling medals; (2008, 2010)

3 County Senior Hurling medals; (2008, 2010, 2012)

4 Munster Senior Hurling medals; (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010)

5 All-Stars (2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)