Brendan Cummins (Cork hurler)

Brendan Cummins (born 1950) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Cork senior team.

Cummins joined the team during the 1971-72 National Hurling League and was a semi-regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 1976 championship. During that time he won one All-Ireland medal and one Munster medal.

At club level Cummins was a three-time All-Ireland medalist with Blackrock. In addition to this he has also won two Munster medals.

Playing career

Club

Cummins played his club hurling with Blackrock and enjoyed much success during a golden age for the cub.

In 1971 he lined out in his first senior decider as Blackrock faced St. Finbarr's. After a decade in the doldrums the Rockies were back and a 2-19 to 5-4 victory secured a championship medal for Cummins. Blackrock subsequently represented Cork in the provincial series of games and faced Moyne-Templetuohy in the decider. An impressive 4-10 to 3-1 victory gave Cummins a Munster medal.^[1] The subsequent All-Ireland decider pitted Blackrock against Rathnure. A high-scoring game followed, however, a narrow 5-13 to 6-9 victory gave Cummins a coveted All-Ireland medal.

Blackrock surrendered their club, provincial and All-Ireland decider the following year, however, in 1973 Cummins lined out in a second county championship final. A 2-12 to 2-10 defeat of Glen Rovers gave him a second championship medal. A subsequent two-point defeat of Newmarket-on-Fergus in the provincial decider gave Cummins a second Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Blackrock against Rathnure. A rousing draw was followed by a great replay, however, Cummins was dropped for the replay. Superb late goals by Donie Collins and Éamonn O'Donoghue secured a 3-8 to 1-9 victory and a second All-Ireland medal for Cummins, albeit as an unused su.

Minor and under-21

Cummins first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in 1967. He was an unused substitute that year as Cork claimed both the Munster and All-Ireland crowns.

In 1968 Cummins made his minor championship debut in a Munster semi-final defeat of Galway. He later won his first Munster medal on the field of play following a high-scoring 7-8 to 5-4 defeat of Waterford. Cummins was at full-back for Cork's subsequent All-Ireland final defeat by Wexford.

The following year Cummins made his under-21 debut when he came on as a sub in a Munster quarter-final victory over Waterford. He missed the subsequent provincial final victory but was on the starting fifteen in the All-Ireland final against Wexford. A 5-13 to 4-7 victory gave Cummins his first All-Ireland medal.

Cummins won his first Munster medal on the field of play in 1970 following a 3-11 to 2-7 defeat of Tipperary. Cork faced their old rivals Wexford in the subsequent All-Ireland decider, however, that game ended in a draw. In the replay Cork went into overdrive and Cummins won a second All-Ireland medal following a 5-17 to 0-8 thrashing.

In 1971 Cummins missed the Munster final but was back on the starting fifteen for the subsequent All-Ireland decider. Wexford stood in the way of Cork securing a record-breaking fourth successive championship and a high-scoring game ensued. A 7-8 to 1-11 victory gave Cummins his third All-Ireland medal.

Senior

Cummins made his senior debut for Cork during the 1971-72 National League. It was a successful campaign for the Rebels as a 3-14 to 2-14 defeat of Limerick gave him a National Hurling League medal as and unused substitute. Cork later reached the All-Ireland decider and Cummins was a late addition to the extended panel. He was an unused sub once again as Cork were defeated by Kilkenny.^[2]

After a number of years off the panel Cummins returned in 1976 and made his championship debut in a Munster semi-final defeat of Tipperary. He later won his sole Munster medal as Limerick were bested by 3-15 to 4-5. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork face old rivals Wexford. In one of the worst starts to a championship decider, Cork were 2-2 to no score in arrears after just six minutes. The Rebels fought back to level matters by half-time, however, it was the long-range point-scoring by Pat Moylan that turned the game for Cork. A 2-21 to 4-11 victory gave Cummins his sole All-Ireland medal.

Personal life

Born in Ballinlough, Cummins is part of a Cork hurling dynasty. His grandfather, William "Bowler" Walsh, played hurling with Cork in the early part of the twentieth century. He lined out in two All-Ireland finals in 1912 and 1915, however, he ended up on the losing side on both occasions. Cummins' father, Willie, was an All-Ireland minor medalist with Cork and also lined out for the senior team. His older brothers, Kevin and Ray, both wore the red jersey of Cork at various levels from the 1960s until the 1980s.

In his professional life Cummins worked as a secondary school teacher in Coláiste Chríost Rí. After retiring from teaching he became involved as a director with Cummins Sports.

Honours

Team

Blackrock

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 1972, 1974 (sub)
• Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 1971, 1973

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1976
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1976
• National Hurling League (1): 1971-72 (sub)
• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (3): 1969, 1970, 1971
• Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (3): 1969 (sub), 1970, 1971 (sub)
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1967
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship (2): 1967 (sub), 1968

References