Advertisement
Waterford's Noel Connors. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Boost

'John Mullane will come back hungrier than ever' - Noel Connors

The Waterford back insists there was never any doubt that his team-mate would return to inter-county hurling.

WATERFORD HURLER NOEL Connors says he can’t wait to have John Mullane back in the Deise panel.

Mulllane chose to take an indefinite leave of absence from the sport back in February, citing family commitments as the main reason, which began rumours that he may retire altogether.

The All-Star was forced to deny such claims and could now be involved in the Division 1A meeting with Galway on March 25. And corner back Connors, who is set to miss out on the remainder of the Aillianz National Hurling League campaign due to injury, is looking forward to his return.

“John was always going to come back,” Connors told GAA.ie. “There were a lot of rumours saying that he wasn’t going to return but we knew John would be back. He’s a man for the summer and a man for the Championship.

If we didn’t have John, the place just wouldn’t be the same in terms of team spirit and everything. I was talking to him this morning and he’s in great form. He’ll come back hungrier than ever.”

21-year-old Connors has been told that he may need surgery on a bulged disc in his lower back which would see him sidelined for up to six weeks but is just focused on getting himself fit for later in the year.

“The main objective is to get right for championship,” Connors said in The Examiner. “There is no point in saying it’s not.”

“I was talking to a specialist and he said a few weeks it should be back to normal. The worst case scenario would be a small operation if it has to be. But I wouldn’t say it will go to that.”

Bouncebackability: Ireland hammer Kenya in Dubai

Best Ireland ready for England challenge