Club comes first in very busy schedule for Adrian Mullen

It’s that time of the year where club, college and county action overlap - and there won’t be many busier players over the next few weeks than Adrian Mullen.

The All-Star hurler is busy preparing for a tilt at the All-Ireland club hurling title as Shamrocks get set to face Antrim and Ulster champions Dunloy in Sunday’s showdown at Croke Park but just three days after the senior decider, the forward come midfielder will then be on duty for DCU (Dublin City University) as the Dublin college make their bow in the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Throw in Kilkenny duty under new manager Derek Lyng a couple of weeks down the track and it’s a real hectic period for Mullen, who outlines how busy the next few weeks will be.

“We’re in the club All-Ireland final with the Shamrocks on Sunday and then DCU kick off the Fitzgibbon Cup on the Wednesday so it’s important to get the body right for both of those games,” he said.

“It’s great to be involved on the two teams and it’s probably a good complaint to have in having two big games in the space of a couple of days.

“We’ll see how it goes and take it as it comes.

“It’s a tough balancing act and I’m staying in contact with DCU even though I’m not training with them currently.

“All my training and focus is currently with Shamrocks as we give our full attention to the All-Ireland final.”

The 23-year-old has been well accustomed to success with the Shamrocks over the last few years and he’ll be aiming to win a third All-Ireland title with the club at the weekend.

While some of the performances have been a bit patchy in recent months, he still has big praise for Pat Hoban and his management team of Niall Lacey and Jimmy Meagher in getting them to this stage.

“Since we’ve come back from the county, we’ve had new management in with us and they’ve been very good so far,” he said.

“The whole management team has brought a fresh approach but we know we still have improvements to make.

“We’ve been a bit hit and miss as we’ve struggled to put two good halves back to back. You could see that in the Naas and Kilmacud Crokes games in the Leinster Championship.

“Going into the Ballygunner game, there was a huge emphasis on putting two good halves together and we did that to get over the line.

“Now we just have to prepare as best as we can for Dunloy as we’ll need to bring a very good game against them so putting two good halves together is hugely important.”

Shamrocks’ victory over Ballygunner in the All-Ireland semi-final put to bed a few demons from last February’s defeat to the same opposition.

While acknowledging that it was a big win for the club, getting to the 2023 All-Ireland final was the most important thing for Mullen and Co.

“The most satisfying part about the Ballygunner victory is that we are back in an All-Ireland final,” said Mullen. “We lost last year so at least we now have a chance to win this year’s final.

“It was good to get one over Ballygunner all the same as they beat us in the All-Ireland and it’s always nice to beat the defending champions.”

The last gasp All-Ireland final defeat is bound to still be lingering among the Shamrocks squad but it’s not something Mullen dwells too much on and he discounts that the loss has any big motivation factor ahead of a return to a fourth final in five years.

“I wouldn’t say there’s any extra motivation going into the game as it’s still an All-Ireland final at the end of the day and you’ll give everything to win it.

“Hopefully that’s good enough on the day but we can’t look back on what happened last year as this is a new final.

“We just have to be ready to give it 100% on the day and hopefully that will be enough.”

Dunloy’s appearance in the final has come as a surprise to many, with most observers expecting Galway side St Thomas to come through but, despite being strong favourites, Shamrocks know that their Ulster opponents are capable of causing them trouble if they aren’t on the top of their game.

“We’ve had a look at Dunloy’s victory over St Thomas and you can even see with Keelan Molloy’s winning goal what a big threat they possess.

“They have a very quick inside forward line with good skillful players and if we give them the space we know they can cause us damage.”

Along with the likes of Eoin Cody, Richie Reid and TJ Reid, Mullen has been on the go relentlessly since Kilkenny’s All-Ireland final defeat to Limerick last July but despite a huge amount of games, Mullen is happy with the split-season as it stands currently.
“I’m hugely in favour of the split-season and I really enjoyed it, you are able to give your all to the county before then giving your all for the club so it’s definitely worked for inter-county players.

“Most inter-county players have had positive things to say about it and maybe the club players think a bit differently but just from my own opinion, I really enjoyed it this year.

“We haven’t had too much of a break as we’ve gone the whole way with club and county but it’s still very enjoyable.”