lads i see a Mark Mullins of Na Piarsaigh captained Cork in 1997

is this the Carlow fella?

anyone able to give me a bit of background on why he transferred, and what he won with club and county?

thanks

joedolan (Carlow) - Posts: 7 - 23/06/2008 12:12:06    36352

Yes Joe that's our Mark Mullins from Bagenalstown. Played hurling and football for Erins Own and St. Andrews respectively and both hurling and football for the county at all levels including senior chamionship. He was part of the Carlow team that won the B hurling All Ireland in London in about 1992 and which Galway a decent game in the All Ireland quarter final. He had gone to collage in Cork and got a job down there and inevitably the pressure to join a Cork club became too great and soon afterwards Cork hurlers wanted him so he then got an inter county transfer. Although he did fairly well the reality is that it was a lean time for Cork and he never actually finished 70 mins of Chamionship hurling for them nor did he ever win anything with them. There was talk of a return to Carlow a few years ago but nothing came of it.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1865 - 23/06/2008 13:28:47    36456

Correction - Mark Mullins did indeed return to play for Carlow in 1997, the year we beat Wexford et al in the Leinster IHC which to my mind was a better system than the Christy Ring as it was a proper championship.

That year we lost the final to Kilkenny for who Ollie O'Connor must have scored 2-10..

PS. Didn't the minors more than hold their own against the cats? Better than the Croker white wash 2 years ago anyway.

no1fan (Carlow) - Posts: 90 - 23/06/2008 14:23:33    36511

when Mullins transferred to Cork, had he been active with Carlow up to that point?

was he considered a loss to the team as a result of the transfer, or had he stopped playing at that point, due to work commitments in Cork city?

thinlizzy (Carlow) - Posts: 263 - 10/07/2008 16:32:05    46485

thin lizzy.... mark mullins had been very active in the carlow team up to the point he transferred and this was a good carlow side that had success at all-ireland b level.

But in fairness no-one begrudged him his move as he had been working there and playing with na piarsiagh for quite a few years before he moved. I remember being in o'loughlins one sunday night and the carlow hurlers were there after a match, Cork were on the tv and when mullins was shown all the carlow players cheered.

I also saw him playing football and he was bloody brilliant !!

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1551 - 10/07/2008 17:47:47    46545

rem that game v kk in the mcgrath park, i think. ollie o connor got 3 goals i thought in that match as far as i can rem. not sure bout the number of points he got... rem the display of the team v galway in dr cullen in an all ireland q final? carlow were b winners that year. the legend that is johnny nevin, gave a majestic display marking the brilliant joe cooney that day. i rem a huge crowd there. think we playing the dubs in the football afterwards? a great day... and i think erins own played a minor final replay before that the same day? v who i cant rem..

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2654 - 11/07/2008 11:31:36    46827

Old yellar. Erins own were playing St. Mullins that ady before thayt Galway game. I think it was an under 21 final and St. Mullins won.

Podge (Carlow) - Posts: 33 - 24/07/2008 11:07:08    55551

I think Mark Mullins played Railway Cup with Leinster before transferring to Cork. He was a member of the Cork Senior team for 4 years and one of the best forwards in Cork during the early nineties when he won two championships with Piarsaighs and regularly featured in the top scorers for Piarsaighs. It was an unlucky time with cork and if the backdoor was around then that Cork team would have featured as they lost narrowly to Limerick in 94 and Clare in 95 when Mullins was one of the best Cork forwards against Clare.

Pullhighandhard (Cork) - Posts: 1 - 19/09/2014 17:09:55    1654015

correct me if i'm wrong but did mark not go on to captain cork at some stage.

Scallioneater (Carlow) - Posts: 294 - 19/09/2014 18:51:15    1654058

sorry i meant na piarsaigh

Scallioneater (Carlow) - Posts: 294 - 19/09/2014 18:52:53    1654060

He definitely captained the Cork seniors during one season during the 90's.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1865 - 19/09/2014 21:17:09    1654103

Indeed, always thought he was a likely second Carlow man to win a senior hurling medal. Not to be !

moll (Carlow) - Posts: 153 - 19/09/2014 21:53:58    1654119

Mark did indeed play with Na Piarsigh and went on to captain Cork - albeit when they were not at their best. He sent a sizzler against the bar - if I am correct - as captain at the end of a game which Cork lost very narrowly.

As a player in Carlow - we did not see his best years of hurling but as a young player he was gifted with serious speed and a great shot from either side and a great engine. He was a big loss to Carlow and as a player he was exceptional. One of the greats that got away but no one begrudged him the great success he chiselled out for himself in Cork.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1903 - 21/09/2014 20:26:45    1654807

He returned to play for Carlow some time around 1996

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 601 - 21/09/2014 21:53:39    1654934