“After 16 seasons, I have decided that the time is right for me to announce my retirement from inter county hurling,” Mulchay said in a statement released this morning through Limerick GAA’s official website.
“To have been entrusted to represent Limerick by the numerous management teams and sharing the dressing room with all my past and current team-mates has been a great honour. I leave with fantastic memories, lifelong friends and an immense pride in what we have achieved.
“The highlight of my playing career was undoubtedly being apart of the team that ended the 45 years wait to bring the Liam McCarthy Cup back to Limerick. Coming back to the county with the Cup is something I will treasure forever. I will always be very grateful to John and his management team for allowing me to play a part in that.”
The Kilmallock man made his senior debut in 2009 as a substitute in a League defeat by Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.
He was the last survivor of Justin McCarthy’s reign, which ended in acrimony in 2010 after a raft of players opted out of the panel.
Under John Allen, Limerick’s fortune began to rise again and Mulcahy nailed down a place in the full-forward line. He claimed his first major silverware in 2013, when Limerick beat Cork in the Munster final.
He finished the season as an All-Star nominee.
Despite the arrival of a new breed of Limerick hurler under John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk, Mulchay remained key to their attack. He began the 2018 All-Ireland final, when Limerick ended a 45 year wait for Liam MacCarthy, scoring 1-2 in the defeat of Galway.
He was a starter again on the hurling year’s biggest day in 2020, when they beat Waterford to win a second in three years, and in 2022 also.
Mulcahy came off the bench in the 2023 decider, when Limerick made in five All-Ireland titles in six years against Kilkenny.
A quote attributed to the Limerick senior hurling management said they wanted to “express our appreciation to Graeme for his 16 years of service to the Limerick Senior Hurling team. He was a tremendous example to those around him by way of his commitment, dedication and relentless work rate on and off of the field.
“Graeme wore the jersey with pride and distinction throughout his amazing career. His leadership in the dressing room and desire to always put the team first were aspects that most never get to see but without which a team cannot be successful.”
