PROBLEM SHARED..

Halved League title not worth celebrating for top Cat Mullen

ADRIAN MULLEN might have an Allianz Hurling League medal, but most likely doesn’t.

This evening against Clare in Thurles, Kilkenny go for their first title since 2021. Sort of. Three years ago, amid a truncated season due to the pandemic, Kilkenny and Galway had to share the title.

So how does that work? Were medals distributed to both playing groups? Half medals, even?!

“I actually don’t know,” Mullen smiles. “I don’t remember getting one anyway!”

Mullen’s first season with Kilkenny seniors was in 2019 and although he’s won four Leinster titles, national success has been elusive. In the two decades before he came on board, Kilkenny won 11 All-irelands and nine League titles.

“Unfortunately I’ve been in three Allirelands since I started with Kilkenny and I’ve come out the wrong side of them.

“Obviously we’d absolutely love to get to an All-ireland and come out the right side of it but no, the Championship is so cutthroat these days and any team can beat any team.”

Mullen has enjoyed the rarity of a full pre-season with

Kilkenny owing to Ballyhale Shamrocks’ failure to extend their dominance in the county last autumn and his form is all the better for it.

“I got to get a block of work in that I haven’t in recent seasons. I’d like to think it’s standing to me. You probably do feel yourself getting a bit fitter and stronger. It’s been a positive thing so far.

“I feel good. The body feels good. No niggles at the moment. I picked up a few injuries over the last number of years. Like any other player, you’re hoping you get a clear run at things and stay injury-free.

“All I can do is do everything that the S&C team ask me to do and hopefully that pays off and I stay injury-free.”

Just turned 25, Mullen is entering the prime of his career but his clubmate, TJ Reid (above), more than 11 years his senior, continues to produce for Kilkenny.

Phased back into the side by manager Derek Lyng last month, he was man of the match in their League semi-final win over Limerick last month, hitting 1-8.

Last year he became the oldest All Star hurler for 40 years though Mullen was never in any doubt about his committing for an 18th season.

“No, absolutely not. There was no doubt in my mind judging by his club campaign with the Shamrocks last year, he was by far our best player again and to have a guy like TJ around the team and the set up and the way he’s performing and the condition he’s in, he’s obviously going to be a huge plus to the team.

“Just for other players to look at him and he’s 36 years of age, just to see the physical condition that he’s still in. He’s still improving in my eyes so it’s a credit to him and hopefully other players can feed off him. His attitude, how he approaches things... he ticks every box.

“Again, look, it’s a credit to him. It’s unbelievable that he is doing what he is doing at the age of 36 because not many other people are doing it.”

A win tomight would bring Reid’s sixth outright League title, seventh if you count the one shared with Galway, and Mullen doesn’t believe 2024 will be his last season either.

“I don’t get any sense of a last hurrah for TJ,” he insisted.