Jake Mulraney says one fan abusing his pregnant girlfriend during a match won’t put her off coming to watch him and the winger admitted that she can look after herself if need be.
Partner Aoife was singled out by a fan during the 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle, during which Mulraney’s surging run resulted in Hearts winning the penalty that got them back in to the game.
Normally the winger would be able to brush it off, but was more aggravated given his better half is expecting their first child in September.
“It is something that comes with football and it wasn’t a massive issue but the fact my girlfriend is pregnant, that got my back up,” he said. “After an hour or so, I calmed down. As long as she is aright, that’s all that really bothers me.
“She is quite sensitive and she is not really used to it. She was used to coming to Inverness and there’s maybe a 1000 or maybe 2000 at a game. But here, there’s 18,000 people screaming.
"She is from a area where, if someone says something, her back usually goes up and she is used to speaking up and defending herself, and she has that in her. So it is hard for her to hear that and not say something back.
“It hasn’t put her off coming to games - maybe just wear ear plugs! I actually think she has done that before, just stuck the headphones in! But she can give as good as she gets. I was only worried because she is pregnant.”
Mulraney was keen to stress that 99% of Hearts fans can’t be tarred with the same brush after one idiot decides to do what he did.
He added: “That’s the thing, me and her spoke about it. If one person says something stupid, we can’t really hold that against all the fans. I know for a fact that not all the fans are like that. I would say that it is only a small percent that are like that.
“It’s the first time it’s happened when it involves her. I get stick all the time and that comes with football. Me personally, I don’t care but when it involves her then it is a bit different.”
Pick your Hearts team to face Rangers at Ibrox
To happier matters, and it’s fair to say Mulraney is looking forward to becoming a father, and the weekend they are due to find out the sex is shaping up to be a big one. “I can’t wait,” he beamed. “I am really excited and we find out what we are having the day after the semi final so it could be a good weekend, please god.
“It will be a massive weekend for myself, playing against my old team, seeing some pals, getting to the final, and finding out what we’re having.”
The fact that Hearts are still on course to what could be an excellent season, Mulraney believes, isn’t always remembered. "I think some people forget about that,” he said. “The boys that have been missing for long periods of time as well. Key players.
“We're still in the mix for Europe in the league, we're in the semi-final - we could still have a really good season."
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