John Mulhall

John Mulhall (born 16 April 1988) is an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-forward for the Kilkenny senior team.^[1]

Mulhall made his first appearance for the team during the 2009 Walsh Cup and became a regular impact sub over subsequent seasons until he left the panel prior to the 2012 championship. During that time he won one All-Ireland winners' medal and two Leinster winners' medals. He ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Mulhall plays with the St. Martin's club.

Playing career

Minor and under-21

Mulhall first tasted success on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor hurling team in 2006. That year he won a Leinster winners' medal following a crushing 4-22 to 1-5 defeat of Carlow.^[2] Kilkenny were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

By 2008 Mulhall was entering his second season as a member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won a Leinster winners' medal in that grade as Kilkenny trounced Offaly by 2-21 to 2-9.^[3] Mulhall later won an All-Ireland winners' medal following a 2-13 to 0-15 defeat of Tipperary.^[4]

Kilkenny retained their Leinster title in 2009 following a 2-20 to 1-19 defeat of Dublin. A second All-Ireland final appearance for Mulhall soon followed, with Clare providing the opposition. A close game developed, however, Mulhall ended up on the losing side by just a single point.^[5]

Senior

Mulhall made his debut for the Kilkenny senior team during the 2010 National League and became a regular substitute during the subsequent championship campaign. He won his first Leinster winners' medal that year when he came on as a late sub in the 1-19 to 1-12 defeat of Galway. Kilkenny subsequently qualified for an All-Ireland final showdown with Tipperary and the chance to make history by claiming a fifth successive championship. Mulhall was introduced as a substitute for T. J. Reid, however, Kilkenny failed in their 'drive for five' as Tipp won by 4-17 to 1-18.

In 2011 Mulhall failed to break onto the Kilkenny starting fifteen once again, however, he remained a very important fringe player. He came on as a substitute in the National League final, on a day when Dublin shocked Kilkenny and won by 0-22 to 1-7.^[6] Mulhall later secured a second Leinster winners' medal following a 4-17 to 1-15 defeat of Dublin.^[7] He later came on as a substitute in All-Ireland final against Tipperary. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory.^[8] It was Mulhall's first All-Ireland winners' medal.

Mulhall left the Kilkenny senior hurling panel following the conclusion of the 2012 National League.

Honours

St. Martin's

• Kilkenny Under-21 'A' Club Hurling Championship (1): 2007
• Kilkenny Minor 'A' Club Hurling Championship (1): 2005

Muckalee

• Kilkenny Senior Club Football Championship (4): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• Kilkenny Under-21 'A' Football Championship (2): 2004, 2007
• Kilkenny Minor 'A' Football Championship (2): 2004, 2005

Kilkenny

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2011
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2010, 2011
• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2008
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (2): 2008, 2009
• Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2006
• National Hurling League (2): 2009, 2012
• Walsh Cup (2): 2009, 2012

UCC

• Fitzgibbon Cup (1): 2009

Cuchullians Chicago

• North American Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2007
• Chicago Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2007

Fr. Tom Bourkes Boston

• Boston Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2014

References