It’s a great day when you win your first Munster Final, It’s also a great day when you win €3,500.
John Mullane achieved both of these feats on the 30th June 2002.
The 30th June 2002 was a sunny Sunday that was every sports fans dream, The Munster Hurling Final and The Fifa World Cup Final were taking place on the same day.
The De La Salle clubman enjoyed that summer day more than anyone else, as he fondly recalled his exploits on the Racing Post’s 2017 GAA Championship Preview podcast.
Mullane and his Waterford team-mate Brian ‘The Bull’ Phelan had placed a bet prior to the tournament on Brazil lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy, and their talisman Ronaldo being the Top Goalscorer of the tournament.
Brazil duly obliged, as did Ronaldo, to send the two Déise men into raptures.
All that was left now, was to beat The Premier County and inspire Waterford to their first Munster Championship win in 39 years.
“My most favourable bet was back in 2002, we won the Munster Final in 2002 for the first time in 39 years. But on that day, we were going down, you know, the world cup final was on at 12 that day. I was after backing Brazil to win the world cup and Ronaldo to be top goalscorer. I did the two of them in a double as well and I won the bones of €3,500. My good friend Brian ‘The Bull’ Phelan was on the panel the same day and I think he won about €2,500. So, I think, between the two of us we were up about €6,000 before a ball was even pucked.”
The excitement obviously didn’t upset Mullane’s preparations for the game, as he notched 0-4 from play later on in the day in a barnstorming display from corner forward.
The positive energy carried him over the line and the celebrations carried forward throughout the following week, as you would expect.
“I remember saying to the bull and the lads before, I said this could be a good day, and low and behold we pushed on and we won the Munster final the same day against the All-Ireland champions, Tipperary. Let’s just say I think there a good chunk of those winnings were gone by the Thursday, all on sociable and enjoyable drinks. Let’s just say I put my hand in my pocket that week.”
What a day it was for the Déise man.
