Ray Cummins
Encyclopedia
Ray Cummins is a retired Irish
sportsperson. A dual player
at the highest levels, he played hurling
with his local club Blackrock
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1969 until 1982. Cummins also played Gaelic football
with his local club St. Michael's
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1968 until 1978. Cummins is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all-time.
Cummins' status as one of the all-time hurling greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for thirteen years he won four All-Ireland
titles, nine Munster
titles, three National Hurling League
titles and three Railway Cup titles with Munster
.
As a Gaelic footballer Cummins also enjoyed the ultimate in success. In a senior inter-county football career that lasted for ten years Cummins won one All-Ireland
title, three Munster
titles and one Railway Cup title with Munster
.
A very tall, slim player, generally towering over his opponents, Cummins used his physical attributes to telling effect by punching many fine points in football and 'catching high' and delivering many winning scores in hurling. As a hurler Cummins is credited with redefining and revolutionising the full-forward position throughout the 1970s. As a tall, non confrontational player Cummins was, at first, seen as the antithesis of what a full-forward should. He did, however, use the skills and space that were available to him and, in time, he became a deadly marksman in front of goal. In 2000 Cummins's contribution to the game of hurling were recognised when he was named in the full-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
.
in Cork in 1948. He was born into a family that had a strong tradition on hurling excellence. His father, Willie Cummins
, played hurling with the Cork minor team in the 1930s. He captured back-to-back All-Ireland
minor titles in 1938 and 1939. Cummins's grandfather, William 'Bowler' Walsh, played hurling with the Cork senior team in the early part of the century. He lined out in two All-Ireland finals in 1912 and 1915, however, he ended up on the losing side on both occasions. In time Ray Cummins would come to be regarded as one of the great players of his generation and as one of the greatest dual player
s of all-time. He honed his hurling and football skills during street games in the 1950s on the Ballinlough Road, and later carried his skills to the nearby Blackrock and St. Michael's clubs. He attended Coláiste Chríost Rí where, along with his brothers Brendan
and Kevin
, he became part of the sporting success of the school. In the late 1960s Cummins attended University College Cork where he studied engineering. Here he played on the college hurling and football teams, winning a Fitzgibbon Cup
hurling title in 1967 and back-to-back Sigerson Cup
football titles in 1969 and 1970.
Cummins currently lives in Kinsale
and works with the pharmaceutical Eli Lilly and Company
. On February 20, 2007 he was profiled on the TG4
television programme Laochra Gael
.
club and enjoyed much success. He first tasted victory with the club in 1966 when he won a county minor championship
title with 'the Rockies.'
During his tenure in university Cummins also played in the senior championships with the UCC
hurling and football teams. In 1969 he won a county senior football championship winners'medal, before adding a county senior hurling championship
title to his collection in 1970.
When Cummins graduated from university he joined the Blackrock senior hurling team. He also played club football with 'the rockies' sister club, St. Michael's
. In 1973 Cummins won his second senior county hurling title, his first with Blackrock. Cummins's side later represented Cork in the provincial club championship. A two-point defeat of Clare's Newmarket-on-Fergus in the provincial final gave Cummins a coveted Munster
club winners' medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Blackrock against Rathnure
. A rousing draw was followed by a great replay. Superb late goals by Donie Collins
and Éamonn O'Donoghue
secured a 3-8 to 1-9 victory and an All-Ireland
club title for Cummins.
Two years later in 1975 Cummins won another county winners' medal with Blackrock. Once again the club later captured the Munster title following an 8-12 to 3-8 defeat of Waterford's Mount Sion. Kilkenny's James Stephens later provided the opposition in the All-Ireland final. Five points down at half-time, the Kilkenny club came storming back and defeated Cummins's side by 2-10 to 2-4.
In 1978 Cummins captured a third county championship title with his club. Once again 'the Rockies' stormed through the provincial championship and defeated Newmarket-on-Fergus by two goals, giving Cummins a third Munster club title. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny again. This time it was Blackrock versus Ballyhale Shamrocks
. Cummins scored two goals in rapid succession in the opening thirty minutes to put his club in the driving seat. At the full-time whistle Blackrock were the winners by 5-7 to 5-5. It was Cummins's second All-Ireland club winners' medal.
In 1979 Cummins won another Cork county championship title with Blackrock. In a similar sequence of events to previous years the club later defeated Dunhill
of Waterford to take the Munster club title. It was Cummins's fourth provincial club title. Blackrock's All-Ireland trail came to an end at the semi-final stage.
title in this grade as Cork trounced GAlway
by 6-7 to 2-8. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Wexford
. An entertaining game ended in a 6-7 draw, however, Wexford won the replay by 4-1 to 1-8.
Cummins later joined the Cork under-21 hurling team and enjoyed some more success. In 1968 he captured a Munster
title in this grade following a 4-10 to 1-13 defeat of Tipperary
. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on arch-rivals Kilkenny
. An exciting game followed, however, Cork were the victors by 2-18 to 3-9, giving Cummins an All-Ireland
under-21 medal.
Cummins was eligible to play with the Cork under-21 team again in 1969. He won a second Munster winners' medal that year as Cork defeated Tipperary by 3-11 to 1-5. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Wexford
, a team Cummins remembered from his minor days. A high-scoring game followed, however, Cork were the victors by 5-13 to 4-7, giving Cummins a second All-Ireland under-21 medal.
, one of Kilkenny's most intimidating players. Cork took an early lead, however, after Pat Delaney
was stretchered off Kilkenny came from behind to win the game by 2-15 to 2-9.
In 1970 Cummins captured a second Munster winners' medal at senior level as Tipperary were accounted for by 3-10 to 3-8. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final. Wexford provided the opposition in the very first eighty-minute championship decider. The game saw a record 64-point score line for both teams as Cork's Eddie O'Brien
scored a hat-trick of goal to give Cork a considerable lead. At full-time Cork were the winners by 6-21 to 5-10, giving Cummins his first senior All-Ireland
winners' medal.
In 1971 Cork's hurlers failed, however, the footballers emerged from the wilderness. Cork defeated Kerry
by 0-25 to 0-14 in the provincial final, giving Cummins his first Munster
football medal. Cork were later defeated by eventual champions Offaly
in the All-Ireland semi-final. Cummins's skill as an all-round hurling and football star was acknowledged at the end of 1971 when he was picked on both inaugural All-Star
teams.
A return to hurling in 1972 saw Cummins win his first National Hurling League
title following a narrow win over Limerick
. The success continued later that year as Cork trounced Clare
by 6-18 to 2-8, giving Cummins a third Munster winners' medal. Cummins later lined out in a third All-Ireland final in four years, with Kilkenny providing the opposition for a second time. In one of the classic All-Ireland finals, he scored two goals in that game to put Cork in the driving seat. With time running out Kilkenny were eight points in arrears, however, one of the most amazing reversals of fortune took place. 'The Cats' fought back and finished seven points ahead on a score line of 3-24 to 5-11. It was a bitter All-Ireland defeat for Cummins, his second at the hands of Kilkenny.
In 1973 Cummins turned his attentions back to football, winning a second Munster title following a 5-12 to 1-15 victory over great rivals Kerry. The team later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Galway providing the opposition. Teenager Jimmy Barry-Murphy
scored the first of his two goals after just two minutes to set the tone. Cork had a reasonably comfortable 3-17 to 2-13 victory and Cummins became only the tenth player in the history of Gaelic games
to win senior All-Ireland medals in both hurling and football.
In 1974 the Cork hurling team bounced back somewhat with Cummins capturing a second National League winners' medal after a defeat of Limerick. He later added a third Munster football winners' medal to his collection as Kerry were accounted for once again. While Cork were the favourites to retain the All-Ireland football title the team's march to victory came to an abrupt halt when Dublin
defeated them in the All-Ireland semi-final. It would by nine years before the Cork football would return to Croke Park
.
1975 saw the Cork hurlers return to the big time. Cummins captured a fourth Munster winners' medal that year following the provincial final trouncing of Limerick. Cork, however, were defeated by surprise package Galway in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final.
1976 saw Cork retain their Munster title with another huge 4-14 to 3-5 win over neighbouring Limerick. It was Cummins's fifth Munster winner’s medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where Wexford provided the opposition. Both sides had high expectations. Cork got off to the worst possible start in an All-Ireland final and trailed by 2-2 after six minutes. Cork battled back, however, the game hung in the balance for much of the seventy. With ten minutes left Wexford were two points to the good, however, three points by Jimmy Barry-Murphy, two by Pat Moylan
and a kicked effort from captain Cummins gave Cork a 2-21 to 4-11 victory. It was Cummins's second All-Ireland winners' medal.
In 1977 Cork reached their third consecutive Munster decider with Clare as the opposition. ‘The Rebels’ got off to a great start with a Tim Crowley
penalty after just seventy-five seconds. Clare fought back, however, Cork still defeated fourteen-man Clare by 4-15 to 4-10. A subsequent defeat of Galway set up a second consecutive All-Ireland final showdown with Wexford. Like the previous year the game turned into a close, exciting affair. A Seánie O'Leary
goal, together with some brilliant saves by goalkeeper Martin Coleman
helped Cork to a 1-17 to 3-8 victory. The victory also resulted in a third All-Ireland winners’ medal for Cummins.
1978 saw Cork dominate the provincial championship once again. Clare provided the opposition in second consecutive Munster showdown between the two sides. The game was a close affair and one which Cork could have lost. At the full-time whistle Cork still had a narrow 0-13 to 0-11 win to give Cummins a seventh Munster title. This victory paved the way for Cork to take on Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland final. The stakes were high as Cork were attempting to capture a first three in-a-row since 1954. The game, however, was not the classic that many expected. Cork were never really troubled over the course of the seventy minutes and a Jimmy Barry-Murphy goal helped the team to a 1-15 to 2-8 victory over their age-old rivals. This victory gave Cork a third All-Ireland title in succession and gave Cummins a fourth All-Ireland winners' medal in total.
In 1979 Cork were invincible in the provincial championship once again. A 2-15 to 0-9 trouncing of Limerick gave the county a record-equaling fifth consecutive Munster title. On a personal level it was Cummins's eighth Munster winners’ medal. After this game it looked likely that Cork were set for a fourth consecutive appearance in the All-Ireland final and the chance to equal the seemingly unbeatable record of four championships in-a-row. The All-Ireland semi-final saw Galway catch Cork on the hop once again. A 2-14 to 1-13 defeat ended the dream of four in-a-row.
In 1980 Cummins won his third and final National Hurling League
medal, however, it turned out to be the first time since 1968 that he didn't win a Munster winners' medal in either hurling or football.
Two years later in 1982 Cummins won his ninth Munster hurling winners' medal following a 5-31 to 3-6 trouncing of Waterford
. At one stage of that Munster final game Cork were nerally thirty points ahead when Cummins got through on goal. He could have sent the sliotar into the net for a goal, however, in a sporting gesture, he handpassed it over the bar. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny. 'The Rebels' were the red-hot favourites, however, Kilkenny surprised. Christy Heffernan
scored two goals in a forty-second spell just before the interval to take the wind out of Cork's sails. Ger Fennelly
got a third goal within eight minutes of the re-start, giving Kilkenny a 3-18 to 1-15 victory. It was to be Cummins's last outing for Cork as he later decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
in both the inter-provincial hurling and football competition and enjoyed much success. He first played for his province in 1969 as a member of the football team, however, Munster were trounced by Connacht
on that occasion. The following year Cummins was selected on the Munster hurling team and played in his first inter-provincial hurling decider. After a 2-15 to 0-9 thrashing of Leinster
he picked up a coveted Railway Cup winners' medal. Cummins was a regular fixture on the team over the next few years, however, success was difficult to come by in both codes. He did, however, win a Railway Cup medal with the Munster footballers in 1972. After five years of Leinster domination in the hurling competition, Munster broke back in 1976 with Cummins adding a second Railway Cup hurling winners' medal to his collection. Two years later a defeat of Connacht gave him his third winners' memento with the province's hurlers. Cummins continued to line out with the Munster hurlers until 1980, however, he failed to have any further success.
awards in both hurling and football.
As a player with Blackrock in the provincial and All-Ireland club championships, Cummins's skill earned him a selection on the club championship silver jubilee team in 1996. Four years later he was given the ultimate accolade by his county, his province and the Gaelic Athletic Association. Cummins was named in the full-forward position on all three Teams of the Millennium. His inclusion as full-forward on the national Team of the Millennium, at the expense of Nicky Rackard
, cemented his reputation as the greatest number fourteen of all-time.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. A dual player
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
at the highest levels, he played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Blackrock
Blackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1969 until 1982. Cummins also played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local club St. Michael's
St. Michael's GAA
St. Michaels G.F.C. is a Gaelic football club in Cork City, Ireland. The club was formed in 1951 after a discourse in the Leaping Salmon bar in Blackrock near Cork. At that time some of the Blackrock hurlers played football with different city teams and it was thought a good idea to enter a...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1968 until 1978. Cummins is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all-time.
Cummins' status as one of the all-time hurling greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for thirteen years he won four All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
titles, nine Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
titles, three National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
titles and three Railway Cup titles with Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
.
As a Gaelic footballer Cummins also enjoyed the ultimate in success. In a senior inter-county football career that lasted for ten years Cummins won one All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
title, three Munster
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
titles and one Railway Cup title with Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
.
A very tall, slim player, generally towering over his opponents, Cummins used his physical attributes to telling effect by punching many fine points in football and 'catching high' and delivering many winning scores in hurling. As a hurler Cummins is credited with redefining and revolutionising the full-forward position throughout the 1970s. As a tall, non confrontational player Cummins was, at first, seen as the antithesis of what a full-forward should. He did, however, use the skills and space that were available to him and, in time, he became a deadly marksman in front of goal. In 2000 Cummins's contribution to the game of hurling were recognised when he was named in the full-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
The GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium was announced by GAA President Seán McCague at a special dinner at Croke Park on 24 July 2000. The initiative was sponsored by An Post who issued special commemorative stamps of the Millennium team members. The team was chosen to comprise, as a...
.
Biography
Ray Cummins was born in BallinloughBallinlough, Cork
Ballinlough is a suburb on the southside of Cork city, in Ireland. It is located between Ballintemple and the larger suburbs of Douglas and Blackrock.There are three primary schools situated in Ballinlough: St...
in Cork in 1948. He was born into a family that had a strong tradition on hurling excellence. His father, Willie Cummins
Willie Cummins
Willie Cummins was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Carrigtwohill and was a member of the Cork minor and senior inter-county teams in the late 1930s and early 1940s.-Club:...
, played hurling with the Cork minor team in the 1930s. He captured back-to-back All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
minor titles in 1938 and 1939. Cummins's grandfather, William 'Bowler' Walsh, played hurling with the Cork senior team in the early part of the century. He lined out in two All-Ireland finals in 1912 and 1915, however, he ended up on the losing side on both occasions. In time Ray Cummins would come to be regarded as one of the great players of his generation and as one of the greatest dual player
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
s of all-time. He honed his hurling and football skills during street games in the 1950s on the Ballinlough Road, and later carried his skills to the nearby Blackrock and St. Michael's clubs. He attended Coláiste Chríost Rí where, along with his brothers Brendan
Brendan Cummins (Cork hurler)
Brendan Cummins is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1970s.-Club:...
and Kevin
Kevin Cummins (hurler)
Kevin Cummins is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the 1960s. Cummins captained Cork to the All-Ireland title at minor level in 1964. He is the brother of Brendan and Ray Cummins, who both went on to...
, he became part of the sporting success of the school. In the late 1960s Cummins attended University College Cork where he studied engineering. Here he played on the college hurling and football teams, winning a Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
hurling title in 1967 and back-to-back Sigerson Cup
Sigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
football titles in 1969 and 1970.
Cummins currently lives in Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
and works with the pharmaceutical Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
. On February 20, 2007 he was profiled on the TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
television programme Laochra Gael
Laochra Gael
Laochra Gael which means Gaelic heroes in the Irish language is an Irish television programme. Now its seventh series the show profiles and celebrates some of the greatest names in Gaelic games since the 1940s. Each of the programmes contains interviews with the subject, archive footage of their...
.
Club
Cummins played his club hurling with the famous BlackrockBlackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
club and enjoyed much success. He first tasted victory with the club in 1966 when he won a county minor championship
Cork Minor Hurling Championship
The Cork Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for Gaelic Athletic Association players under the age of 18 in County Cork, Ireland. This competition is also known as the Cork Premier Minor Hurling Championship since 1992. It is played on a countywide basis. Prior to 1992, all teams...
title with 'the Rockies.'
During his tenure in university Cummins also played in the senior championships with the UCC
UCC GAA
UCC is a football and hurling club associated with University College Cork. UCC teams play in the Cork Senior Football Championship and Cork Senior Hurling Championship as well as the two main third-level competitions namely the Sigerson Cup in football and the Fitzgibbon Cup in hurling...
hurling and football teams. In 1969 he won a county senior football championship winners'medal, before adding a county senior hurling championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
title to his collection in 1970.
When Cummins graduated from university he joined the Blackrock senior hurling team. He also played club football with 'the rockies' sister club, St. Michael's
St. Michael's GAA
St. Michaels G.F.C. is a Gaelic football club in Cork City, Ireland. The club was formed in 1951 after a discourse in the Leaping Salmon bar in Blackrock near Cork. At that time some of the Blackrock hurlers played football with different city teams and it was thought a good idea to enter a...
. In 1973 Cummins won his second senior county hurling title, his first with Blackrock. Cummins's side later represented Cork in the provincial club championship. A two-point defeat of Clare's Newmarket-on-Fergus in the provincial final gave Cummins a coveted Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
club winners' medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Blackrock against Rathnure
Rathnure GAA
Rathnure St. Anne’s is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Rathnure, County Wexford, Ireland. Rathnure's most famous players are the Rackards and Quigley brothers.-First AGM:...
. A rousing draw was followed by a great replay. Superb late goals by Donie Collins
Donie Collins
Donie Collins is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Blackrock in Cork and James Stephens in Kilkenny in the 1970s and 1980s. Collins also lined out with the Cork senior inter-county team. He is the only player in history to win four All-Ireland...
and Éamonn O'Donoghue
Éamonn O'Donoghue
Éamonn O'Donoghue is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1974 until 1983.-Club:...
secured a 3-8 to 1-9 victory and an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club title for Cummins.
Two years later in 1975 Cummins won another county winners' medal with Blackrock. Once again the club later captured the Munster title following an 8-12 to 3-8 defeat of Waterford's Mount Sion. Kilkenny's James Stephens later provided the opposition in the All-Ireland final. Five points down at half-time, the Kilkenny club came storming back and defeated Cummins's side by 2-10 to 2-4.
In 1978 Cummins captured a third county championship title with his club. Once again 'the Rockies' stormed through the provincial championship and defeated Newmarket-on-Fergus by two goals, giving Cummins a third Munster club title. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny again. This time it was Blackrock versus Ballyhale Shamrocks
Ballyhale Shamrocks GAA
Ballyhale Shamrocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballyhale in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1972 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling...
. Cummins scored two goals in rapid succession in the opening thirty minutes to put his club in the driving seat. At the full-time whistle Blackrock were the winners by 5-7 to 5-5. It was Cummins's second All-Ireland club winners' medal.
In 1979 Cummins won another Cork county championship title with Blackrock. In a similar sequence of events to previous years the club later defeated Dunhill
Dunhill GAA
Dunhill GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dunhill, County Waterford, Ireland. The club enters teams in both GAA codes each year, which includes two adult hurling teams and one adult Gaelic football team in the Waterford County Championships....
of Waterford to take the Munster club title. It was Cummins's fourth provincial club title. Blackrock's All-Ireland trail came to an end at the semi-final stage.
Minor & Under-21
In the early 1960s Cummins went for a trial with the Cork Under-15 hurling team and, in one of the major oversights of Cork hurling, a future star was turned away. He was subsequently accepted onto the inter-county minor hurling team. Cummins captured a MunsterMunster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title in this grade as Cork trounced GAlway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
by 6-7 to 2-8. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. An entertaining game ended in a 6-7 draw, however, Wexford won the replay by 4-1 to 1-8.
Cummins later joined the Cork under-21 hurling team and enjoyed some more success. In 1968 he captured a Munster
Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title in this grade following a 4-10 to 1-13 defeat of Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on arch-rivals Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. An exciting game followed, however, Cork were the victors by 2-18 to 3-9, giving Cummins an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
under-21 medal.
Cummins was eligible to play with the Cork under-21 team again in 1969. He won a second Munster winners' medal that year as Cork defeated Tipperary by 3-11 to 1-5. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
, a team Cummins remembered from his minor days. A high-scoring game followed, however, Cork were the victors by 5-13 to 4-7, giving Cummins a second All-Ireland under-21 medal.
Senior
Cummins first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior football team in 1968. The following year he became a dual player when he made his first appearance on the Cork senior hurling side. Cummins's first appearance was when he came on as a substitute in the Munster final trouncing of Tipperary. This win allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where Kilkenny provided the opposition. It was Cummins's first full game with the senior hurling team. It was a baptism of fire for the young hurlers as he was marking Pa DillonPa Dillon
Pa Dillon is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Lachtain's and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1964 until 1972. Dillon is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest-ever players.-Club:Dillon played his club hurling with the St...
, one of Kilkenny's most intimidating players. Cork took an early lead, however, after Pat Delaney
Pat Delaney (Kilkenny hurler)
Pat Delaney is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Fenians and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1969 until 1977.-Club:...
was stretchered off Kilkenny came from behind to win the game by 2-15 to 2-9.
In 1970 Cummins captured a second Munster winners' medal at senior level as Tipperary were accounted for by 3-10 to 3-8. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final. Wexford provided the opposition in the very first eighty-minute championship decider. The game saw a record 64-point score line for both teams as Cork's Eddie O'Brien
Eddie O'Brien (hurler)
Eddie O'Brien is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Passage and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
scored a hat-trick of goal to give Cork a considerable lead. At full-time Cork were the winners by 6-21 to 5-10, giving Cummins his first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winners' medal.
In 1971 Cork's hurlers failed, however, the footballers emerged from the wilderness. Cork defeated Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
by 0-25 to 0-14 in the provincial final, giving Cummins his first Munster
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
football medal. Cork were later defeated by eventual champions Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in the All-Ireland semi-final. Cummins's skill as an all-round hurling and football star was acknowledged at the end of 1971 when he was picked on both inaugural All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
teams.
A return to hurling in 1972 saw Cummins win his first National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title following a narrow win over Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
. The success continued later that year as Cork trounced Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
by 6-18 to 2-8, giving Cummins a third Munster winners' medal. Cummins later lined out in a third All-Ireland final in four years, with Kilkenny providing the opposition for a second time. In one of the classic All-Ireland finals, he scored two goals in that game to put Cork in the driving seat. With time running out Kilkenny were eight points in arrears, however, one of the most amazing reversals of fortune took place. 'The Cats' fought back and finished seven points ahead on a score line of 3-24 to 5-11. It was a bitter All-Ireland defeat for Cummins, his second at the hands of Kilkenny.
In 1973 Cummins turned his attentions back to football, winning a second Munster title following a 5-12 to 1-15 victory over great rivals Kerry. The team later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Galway providing the opposition. Teenager Jimmy Barry-Murphy
Jimmy Barry-Murphy
James "Jimmy" Barry-Murphy is a former Irish hurler, Gaelic footballer and association footballer and is the current manager of the Cork senior hurling team...
scored the first of his two goals after just two minutes to set the tone. Cork had a reasonably comfortable 3-17 to 2-13 victory and Cummins became only the tenth player in the history of Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
to win senior All-Ireland medals in both hurling and football.
In 1974 the Cork hurling team bounced back somewhat with Cummins capturing a second National League winners' medal after a defeat of Limerick. He later added a third Munster football winners' medal to his collection as Kerry were accounted for once again. While Cork were the favourites to retain the All-Ireland football title the team's march to victory came to an abrupt halt when Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
defeated them in the All-Ireland semi-final. It would by nine years before the Cork football would return to Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
.
1975 saw the Cork hurlers return to the big time. Cummins captured a fourth Munster winners' medal that year following the provincial final trouncing of Limerick. Cork, however, were defeated by surprise package Galway in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final.
1976 saw Cork retain their Munster title with another huge 4-14 to 3-5 win over neighbouring Limerick. It was Cummins's fifth Munster winner’s medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where Wexford provided the opposition. Both sides had high expectations. Cork got off to the worst possible start in an All-Ireland final and trailed by 2-2 after six minutes. Cork battled back, however, the game hung in the balance for much of the seventy. With ten minutes left Wexford were two points to the good, however, three points by Jimmy Barry-Murphy, two by Pat Moylan
Pat Moylan
Pat Moylan is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and member of Seanad Éireann.Born in Banagher, County Offaly, where he still lives, he is married with three sons and one daughter....
and a kicked effort from captain Cummins gave Cork a 2-21 to 4-11 victory. It was Cummins's second All-Ireland winners' medal.
In 1977 Cork reached their third consecutive Munster decider with Clare as the opposition. ‘The Rebels’ got off to a great start with a Tim Crowley
Tim Crowley
Tim Crowley is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with Newcestown and Cork in the 1970s and 1980s.-Playing career:...
penalty after just seventy-five seconds. Clare fought back, however, Cork still defeated fourteen-man Clare by 4-15 to 4-10. A subsequent defeat of Galway set up a second consecutive All-Ireland final showdown with Wexford. Like the previous year the game turned into a close, exciting affair. A Seánie O'Leary
Seánie O'Leary
Seanie O'Leary is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Youghal and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1971 until 1984.-Early & private life:...
goal, together with some brilliant saves by goalkeeper Martin Coleman
Martin Coleman
Martin Coleman is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Ballinhassig and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1979.-Club:...
helped Cork to a 1-17 to 3-8 victory. The victory also resulted in a third All-Ireland winners’ medal for Cummins.
1978 saw Cork dominate the provincial championship once again. Clare provided the opposition in second consecutive Munster showdown between the two sides. The game was a close affair and one which Cork could have lost. At the full-time whistle Cork still had a narrow 0-13 to 0-11 win to give Cummins a seventh Munster title. This victory paved the way for Cork to take on Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland final. The stakes were high as Cork were attempting to capture a first three in-a-row since 1954. The game, however, was not the classic that many expected. Cork were never really troubled over the course of the seventy minutes and a Jimmy Barry-Murphy goal helped the team to a 1-15 to 2-8 victory over their age-old rivals. This victory gave Cork a third All-Ireland title in succession and gave Cummins a fourth All-Ireland winners' medal in total.
In 1979 Cork were invincible in the provincial championship once again. A 2-15 to 0-9 trouncing of Limerick gave the county a record-equaling fifth consecutive Munster title. On a personal level it was Cummins's eighth Munster winners’ medal. After this game it looked likely that Cork were set for a fourth consecutive appearance in the All-Ireland final and the chance to equal the seemingly unbeatable record of four championships in-a-row. The All-Ireland semi-final saw Galway catch Cork on the hop once again. A 2-14 to 1-13 defeat ended the dream of four in-a-row.
In 1980 Cummins won his third and final National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal, however, it turned out to be the first time since 1968 that he didn't win a Munster winners' medal in either hurling or football.
Two years later in 1982 Cummins won his ninth Munster hurling winners' medal following a 5-31 to 3-6 trouncing of Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
. At one stage of that Munster final game Cork were nerally thirty points ahead when Cummins got through on goal. He could have sent the sliotar into the net for a goal, however, in a sporting gesture, he handpassed it over the bar. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny. 'The Rebels' were the red-hot favourites, however, Kilkenny surprised. Christy Heffernan
Christy Heffernan
Christy Heffernan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glenmore and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s. Heffernan is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest-ever players.-Club:...
scored two goals in a forty-second spell just before the interval to take the wind out of Cork's sails. Ger Fennelly
Ger Fennelly
Ger Fennelly is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Ballyhale Shamrocks and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1974 until 1989. Fennelly captained Kilkenny to the All-Ireland title in 1979.-Biography:Ger Fennelly was born in Piltown, County...
got a third goal within eight minutes of the re-start, giving Kilkenny a 3-18 to 1-15 victory. It was to be Cummins's last outing for Cork as he later decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
Inter-provincial
Cummins also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in both the inter-provincial hurling and football competition and enjoyed much success. He first played for his province in 1969 as a member of the football team, however, Munster were trounced by Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
on that occasion. The following year Cummins was selected on the Munster hurling team and played in his first inter-provincial hurling decider. After a 2-15 to 0-9 thrashing of Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
he picked up a coveted Railway Cup winners' medal. Cummins was a regular fixture on the team over the next few years, however, success was difficult to come by in both codes. He did, however, win a Railway Cup medal with the Munster footballers in 1972. After five years of Leinster domination in the hurling competition, Munster broke back in 1976 with Cummins adding a second Railway Cup hurling winners' medal to his collection. Two years later a defeat of Connacht gave him his third winners' memento with the province's hurlers. Cummins continued to line out with the Munster hurlers until 1980, however, he failed to have any further success.
Post-playing career
At the time of his retirement Cummins had won every single honour in the game. He continues to support his club and county, however, he has had little, if any, involvement as a selector or coach. Since his retirement from the game Cummins has come to be regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. He holds the distinction of being one of only four players to have been awarded All-StarGAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards in both hurling and football.
As a player with Blackrock in the provincial and All-Ireland club championships, Cummins's skill earned him a selection on the club championship silver jubilee team in 1996. Four years later he was given the ultimate accolade by his county, his province and the Gaelic Athletic Association. Cummins was named in the full-forward position on all three Teams of the Millennium. His inclusion as full-forward on the national Team of the Millennium, at the expense of Nicky Rackard
Nicky Rackard
Nicholas Rackard better known as Nicky or Nickey Rackard, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Rathnure club and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956...
, cemented his reputation as the greatest number fourteen of all-time.