Adrian Mullen targeting Kilkenny spot following dream season with Ballyhale
Wednesday 10 April 2019 13:59, UK
It's been a whirlwind start to 2019 for Adrian Mullen. After helping Ballyhale Shamrocks to the All-Ireland title, the 29-year-old picked up the AIB Club Hurler of the Year gong.
However, now is no time to rest on his laurels, with the intercounty season on the horizon as he joins the Kilkenny senior panel for the first time.
"To get that call was unreal," he smiled, recounting the moment he picked up the phone and Brian Cody was on the other end, inviting him to join the panel.
"You're probably a bit shocked, it was a very weird moment. You're just thinking when you're a young lad, to get in there for a few training sessions.
"Brian was very lenient and said to just concentrate on club and we went in [to county] after.
"Myself, Darren [Mullen] and Evan Shefflin have been brought in. It's great being there. We've had a few short sessions with them. It's been good so far.
"Intensity is higher, it's just a different standard altogether. You just have to adapt to that, use every session to get better."
Mullen, a first cousin of Kilkenny legends Mick and Colin Fennelly, is following a family tradition, and feels it's surreal to be rubbing shoulders with them in the dressing room and now to be donning the black and amber of Kilkenny.
"I'm grateful to be with them, and to be managed by Henry [Shefflin]," he beamed. "The day before the All-Irelands a few years ago, Mick and Colin used to call into the house. I used to be looking at them, wondering if I'll ever make it.
"They've been a great help over the few years. They've been very good to me, gave me advice.
"Even to win an All-Ireland with the club is unreal, but you do want to go that one step further and become one of them."
As the All-Ireland celebrations die down, Mullen is keen to take the next step, which is to break into Cody's starting plans. The Cats' first assignment of the summer is the Leinster Championship opener at home to Dublin, and Mullen is targeting the Nowlan Park showdown now that the Ballyhale triumph has been parked.
"We had our few days after the All-Ireland so we made the most of them," he explained. "It's just heads down now and focus on Dublin and see where that takes us.
"You want to work hard and develop. If that takes you on further, then good but if the chance doesn't present itself you just work harder. When you get that chance then, you take it with both hands and make the most of it."
