Chris Mulhall pens new deal at Limerick

Chris Mulhall declared himself 'a happy footballer' as he signed up for another year with Limerick.

Mulhall had a successful first season in the blue of Limerick, finishing as the club's joint-highest scorer (with John O'Flynn) as Martin Russell's side coasted to the First Division title.

The Portlaoise man's 12 league goals earned him a PFAI First Division Player of the Year nomination, while he was awardedExtratime.ie's top honour for the second tier.

“I’m delighted to be signed back; since I finished up in October all I wanted to do was sign back,” Chris said. “I was happy to get the call to have talks and it was done within 2-3 days. It was easy; both sides wanted the same.

“I really enjoyed last season. I loved everything about the place. A happy footballer is a good footballer.

“I’d like to think I was important to the squad. The dressing-room is brilliant there – I probably made friends for life with the boys down there.

“I said it before, I play my best football under Martin (Russell) and I think it proved again this year that he gets the best out of me.

“Everything about the Markets Field, I love it, the supporters are good to me – I love everything about the place, I really do. I’m really enjoying my football at the moment.

“I was very proud of the award with my own lads down in Limerick, for them to vote me Players’ Player of the Year – that really meant a lot to me. I was really happy with that one.

“Martin knew from before that I could play in a few positions. I started the first game of the season up front and got my goal. I think my best position is up front.

“Most of my career I’ve been playing out on the wing but I feel I’ve only been doing a job out on the wing rather than playing to my potential as a striker.

“I think it proved this year that my best position is a striker and I think I delivered the goods. But there is a lot hard work to be done and I think there is still a lot of improvement in me and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of the Premier Division next year.”

Mulhall joined the Blues from UCD at the beginning of last season to be reunited with Russell, the manager who twice brought him to Belfield.

The 28-year-old began his senior career with Shelbourne and spent two injury-hampered seasons with Shamrock Rovers before signing for the Students.

He spent six seasons in total with UCD, interrupted by one year back at Tolka Park in 2011.