Kilkenny selector DJ Carey has given an update on forward Adrian Mullen’s recovery from a cruciate knee injury.
BY PAUL CARROLL
Adrian Mullen looks set to feature for Kilkenny in the 2020 inter-county championships as he steps up his recovery from a cruciate knee injury.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks star suffered the blow during a league game against Clare in February, and would have missed the season had it not been postponed due to the pandemic.
DJ Carey, who is a selector alongside Brian Cody, explains where Mullen is at in his recovery process:
“Please God he will be in a position to play with us but, while Adrian is back doing a lot of the training, he’s not part of any hurling or any full-out sprinting yet.
“He still has another test to go before he can get back into any sort of back-to-play protocol.
“I’d imagine he will be back training before the Leinster semi-final but whether or not he’ll be in contention for that will be down to doctors and physios but certainly he has made great progress and if Kilkenny were to have a prolonged year, he’d certainly be involved.”
Mullen was a key man for Kilkenny last summer. The forward was the Cats’ third-highest scorer behind only TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly, following his 1-13 tally in last year’s championship.
His standout performance was in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final victory over Limerick where the Ballyhale man scored four points.
Should Mullen make it back for a Leinster semi-final, it will be against the winners of Dublin and Laois.
Carey has strong connections with a Laois side who are managed by his former Kilkenny teammate Eddie Brennan.
“It’s well-documented how well Eddie has done with Laois. I would have an affinity with Laois through the Fitzgibbon hurling with Carlow IT — maybe over the years we would’ve had eight or nine of those guys with us.
“They are seriously dedicated lads and very good hurlers. Carlow IT has gotten to two Fitzgibbon Cup finals with Laois almost being the backbone of it.
“Eddie is a good guy, he knows his stuff, knows his hurling, is well organised and he’ll get the best out of the Laois lads who are very good hurlers.”
Kilkenny will play Laois or Dublin on the weekend of October 31.
