Latest news with #BrendanCummins
Irish Examiner
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Brendan Cummins: 'We understand in Tipp, it's never as good or as bad as you think'
Bank Holiday Monday afternoon on the mountain and Brendan Cummins is back among familiar faces. He spent years coming to the Cooley Peninsula, often smack bang in the middle of All-Ireland campaigns with Tipperary, with one goal in mind - to chase down Ger Cunningham's record of seven All-Ireland Poc Fada titles. Cummins equalled Cunningham in 2013, stretched it out to eight and then nine titles before competing for a final time in 2019. That was until Monday when, after an invite from Martin Donnelly, in his 30th year as competition sponsor, Cummins agreed to do battle with the 5km course again. For a 15th time in total, he reckons. He finished a creditable seventh of the dozen competitors, three places ahead of Louth's Darren Geoghegan. "Would you believe he (Geoghegan) used to be carrying the flags for me and watching where the balls were landing when I was coming up here competing years ago," smiled Cummins. The fire still burns brightly in the former Tipp goalie who was frustrated that half the 5km Annaverna Mountain course was deemed unplayable due to high winds. He had a figure in mind for total pucks that he wanted to beat. Kilkenny hurler Fionan Mackessy - whom Cummins previously coached when both were involved with Kerry - recognised that the Tipp man meant business and declined to tap him up for advice beforehand, as he had done before winning in 2023 and 2024. As for taking the title, and beating the likes of Mackessy, or eventual winner Colin Ryan, an All-Ireland SHC medallist with Limerick in 2018, Cummins hadn't quite carried that level of ambition with him up the M1. "If a 50-year-old starts beating 25 and 26-year-olds in a Poc Fada competition, they'd want to have a look at themselves," he said, referencing his landmark 50th birthday at the start of the summer. Brendan Cummins competing in the Senior Hurling competition during the M. Donnelly GAA Poc Fada All-Ireland Finals at Annaverna Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula, Ravensdale, Louth. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Around 300 were in attendance in Ravensdale for the annual competition and Cummins broke about even in the request-for-a-selfie count with former world boxing champion Bernard Dunne, a regular attendee and close pal of sponsor Donnelly. It has been the best of years for him and Tipp, with two All-Ireland hurling titles tucked away, one of those thanks in a large part to Cummins. He continued as U-20s manager and, just like 2019, the underage side managed to match the seniors by winning the All-Ireland. Keeping both teams at the top now, is the next challenge. "There's no doubt that when you have a sweet spot there with fellas going well and the young brigade coming through, that you have to make the most of it," said Cummins. "And that's what we'll try to do again. It might work again for us next year, and it mightn't. But we'll keep going, next year and the year after and the year after. And we'll win again, at some stage, but there's no guarantees when it'll happen. "Like, you couldn't say that the Tipp hurlers and the Tipp U-20s are guaranteed to even get out of Munster next year. You couldn't say that. And that's what fuels us all to get going again." Cummins, just in off the punishing mountain course with its giant peaks, valleys and ravines, knows more than most about how quickly sporting fortunes can rise and fall. "We understand the situation in Tipp, that it's never as good as you think it is, and never as bad as you think," he said. "Go back to Thurles last year and Tipp were beaten handily by Cork and everyone thought, 'This thing has blown up altogether'. They turned it around. I was delighted for Liam Cahill because he got wicked stick last year. "And that's the way it works as a manager, he understands that, we all do. But to turn it around, I'm delighted for him." Darragh McCarthy, Oisin O'Donoghue and Sam O'Farrell, key figures for Cummins' U-20s this year, all made significant contributions to the senior success. Cummins, U-20 manager since the end of 2021, has monitored their development closely. He sees more young phenoms potentially following their lead. "I can see right down through the food chain, as we'd call it, and there's lots of potential there," he said. "But we have to develop them and bring them on and accelerate that progress as quick as we can by using our experience as management, that's the trick."
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ GAA Podcast: All-Ireland Hurling final preview
Brendan Cummins and Jackie Tyrrell join Jacqui Hurley to look ahead to Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Tipperary. The Rebels are the favourites as they aim to put 20 years of hurt behind them, but Tipp will want to spring a surprise in the decider. How will the challengers approach it, and will they have learned from the way other teams set up? Or is it fate that Pat Ryan and Cork will end a difficult year with the Liam MacCarthy Cup?
The Irish Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Saved the GAA' – RTE pundits weigh in on scoreboard controversy that marred Tipperary's dramatic win over Kilkenny
THE Sunday Game's pundits dove into the scoreboard controversy that marred the ending of a thriller between Tipperary and Kilkenny. After a ding-dong battle it Advertisement 3 A wide on 70 minutes by Noel McGrath was registered on the scoreboard as a point 3 Tipperary legend Brendan Cummins doesn't expect Kilkenny to lodge an appeal Credit: @TheSundayGame 3 Joe Canning spoke about how much of a mentality shift there is between trailing by four as opposed to three points Credit: @TheSundayGame However, in This was because a wide by Noel McGrath was But the Cats can still feel aggrieved as their players would've been working off the scoreboard which added an unnecessary sense of panic to their play as they felt they had to chase a goal. While analysing how the confusion arose, Brendan Cummins noted that one umpire put his hand up to catch the sliotar as McGrath's shot went just wide while the other official signalled it was wide. Advertisement Read More On GAA Kilkenny then had two attacks where firstly Eoin Cody and secondly John Donnelly needlessly went for goal from long-range. Joe Canning then outlined how Kilkeny's players clearly forced the issue as they felt they were in a bigger hole than they were in actuality. Speaking about them thinking they were initially down by four immediately after McGrath's phantom point, he emphasized: "Psychologically that's huge because then you feel you have to get a goal and a point. "When you're only two points down you're thinking we can tap one over and then try and win the puck-out so you can tap another one over. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling "So for Kilkenny's players, psychologically, chasing three points (that late on) is way different from chasing two points." Later on in the programme Canning returned to just how vital Robert Doyle's goal-line block from Donnelly's rasping effort had been. RTE viewers loved Noel McGrath's post-match interview from accidental F-bomb to hilarious gag The Galway great added: "He's lucky because if they got that goal at the end of the match, Kilkenny would've won by the referee. "Kilkenny would've been a point up yet everybody in the stadium would've thought it was a drawn match. So he saved the GAA I'd say!" Advertisement The GAA have launched an investigation after the incident marred what was an otherwise incredible occasion. In a statement last night, Croke Park chiefs are awaiting referee Owen's match report to get the bottom of the confusion. It said: 'The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30. "The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score. The CCCC is awaiting the full referees report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred." Advertisement LYNG GRACIOUS Meanwhile Kilkenny boss Derek Lyng had no complaints over the result, and admitted that shipping four goals against their old foes was the killer blow. He said: "I think when you concede three before half-time, you're always going to be under pressure. We started the game very well. "We were managing the game pretty well to that point and maybe a sense of panic when the first goal went in. I'm not sure. 'But credit to our players, I thought they responded really well, particularly in the second half. It looked like we got control of the game again. Advertisement 'But conceding the fourth goal, you're going to have to do an awful lot to win a semi-final when you concede four. "If I was asked before the game if we hit 30 points, we would have said we wouldn't have been too far off it. Unfortunately, just a few too many let in at the other side.'
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
RTE pundit Cummins doesn't mince words when asked if he feels penalty shoot-out was right way to settle Munster final
SATURDAY'S Munster hurling final being decided on penalties made for one of the main topics of debate on The Sunday Game. An instant classic filled with intensity, if not always the greatest of quality, was 3 Brendan Cummins isn't a general fan of penalty shoot-outs in hurling Credit: The Sunday Game 3 Former captain Decl;an Hannon's errant strike sent Cork fans into raptures 3 Barry Nash also missed the target while Barry Nash saw his effort saved by Patrick Collins as the Rebels triumphed 3-2 It's one thing how Gaelic football shoot-outs have become more commonplace since the GAA did away with replays. But seeing it unfold at the end of a massive hurling contest didn't sit well with many fans. Brendan Cummins is among that number as he argued they're not a fair way to decide such matches. Speaking on The Sunday Game, the Tipperary goalkeeping great said: "I don't like them. I'd rather if we could extend the season (by making space for a replay). Read More On GAA "It's not fair on either team. It's difficult and you also have to take into account fatigue. "Look at Darragh Fitzgibbon's penalty. He planted down on his left foot there as he began his hit straight away and it took the power off the strike. "But look, it is what it is. Both teams knew going into it that was the situation at play. But what a way for Cork to win it! "They showed unbelievable character and on a human level, those scenes with Pat Ryan afterwards would make you say well done to those Cork men." Most read in GAA Hurling The 50-year-old isn't the only prominent RTE GAA figure to Former Sunday Games host Des Cahill tweeted: "Does a tremendous final like this really have to be decided by penalties? RTE GAA pundits argue over who started halftime row as Cork eventually topple Limerick in Munster epic final "Imagine the anticipation, the craic, and the buzz if we were looking forward to a replay! "This is the price of the condensed season. Congrats to Cork & Limerick on providing a superb Munster final." His successor in the role meanwhile, paid tribute to victorious boss Ryan whose brother Upon 94 minutes and the ensuing shoot-out drawing to a close, fellow Cork native Jacqui Hurley immediately thought of the Ryan family as a whole. Sharing a pic of Cork supporters turning the Gaelic Grounds red, she said: "Ray, I hope you are smiling down on these scenes."
RTÉ News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Brendan Cummins: Limerick-Cork time keeping was spot on
There was much debate as to the amount of time added on at the end of normal time and then extra time during the Munster hurling final, but Brendan Cummins felt the officials got it right at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. There was much for referee Thomas Walsh, who had to leave the field of play at the end of normal time and his replacement James Owen, to contend with. On The Sunday Game, Cummins went through the chronology of events, that started with Walsh going down with cramp "It was two minutes and 25 seconds before the game restarted and that time was allowed," said the former Tipperary netminder. "And then you bring it forward to Aaron Gillane's free, there is 83 minutes on the clock and ball from Gillane goes over the bar. He (Owens) blew for half-time. "In fairness to the officials, the time-keeping was spot on..." - Brendan Cummins looks at the footage, following a lot of heated debate regarding the added time played in the Munster final. #rtegaa #TheSundayGame — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 8, 2025 "And then at the end of extra-time, you can see James Owens in the middle of the field pointing out clearly one minute of additional time to his officials. Shane O'Brien is then fouled by Damien Cahalane, we are just under the 90 minutes. Cahalane gives away the free but behind all that Cian Lynch gets a head injury and he needed attention, so he had to leave the field of play. It took one minute for Cian Lynch to get off the pitch. "Aaron Gillane looks around at the referee and says 'am I ok to go (take the free). We still have one minute to go." Darragh Fitzgibbon then had a free in own half, with Cummins pointing out that the referee did not say to him to that this was the last puck of the game. The shot goes out off Nick Quaid for a 65. Cummins continues: "On 92 37 seconds, Fitzgibbon is taking the 65. The important piece here is that, and I didn't realise this until I spoke to a number of referees today, the rulebook states that 'if it goes out for a 65 you must let the 65 be taken'.
