Ballyhale Shamrocks and Kilkenny forward Adrian Mullen has admitted that he was filled with “surprise” upon the news that Henry Shefflin would be the new Galway senior hurling manager.
Shefflin, who was Mullen’s manager with Ballyhale Shamrocks before taking over Thomastown for the 2021 season, was the shock replacement for Shane O’Neill of Kilkenny’s Leinster rivals last month.
Despite winning two club All-Ireland titles in 2019 and 2020 under the 10-time All-Ireland winner’s guidance, Mullen is hoping that Shefflin does not replicate that success in his new job.
“There was plenty of surprise, especially here within Ballyhale. I was definitely (surprised), I suppose there was a bit of disappointment seeing him go because of what he done for us with Ballyhale, it was unbelievable.
“So from a Ballyhale point of view, I’d love to still have him with us but best of luck to him with what he does, but I hope he doesn’t win too much up there,” Mullen said at the launch of this year’s AIB GAA Club Championships.
“I just had a few brief words with him after the county final. I just met him on the pitch and he was just telling me how useless I was for the first 40 minutes and then I got that goal. But he’s always there to give you a bit of advice if you need it so best of luck to him.”
The 2019 Young Hurler of the Year was also hesitant to speculate too much about the prospect of facing off against his fellow club man in next year’s inter-county league and championship but did acknowledge that it will be an interesting prospect for all parties.
“Obviously it’s going to be very interesting. We obviously know him very well as well and we know what he is going to bring to Galway as well so it’ll be interesting if we meet,” Mullen said.
“We know him very well and sure TJ (Reid) knows him well like so it’ll be interesting to see and we’ll see what happens.”
Adrien Mullen’s Ballyhale Shamrocks side, crowned county champions for the fourth consecutive year recently thanks to their defeat of O’Loughlin Gaels, face Carlow SHC champions Mount Leinster Rangers, victorious in their decider against rivals St. Mullin’s, in the first round of the Leinster club championship.
That game will take place at 4pm in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday, December 4 with full live commentary on KCLR.
