Old guard Cummins young at heart

THOUGH the likes of Padraic Maher, Noel McGrath, Paddy Stapleton will give Tipperary a youthful look in Semple Stadium tomorrow, manager Liam Sheedy wouldn’t have any fears about a lack of experienced generals to command the troops in the white heat of battle.

The first man he’ll look to is the first name on his team sheet — Brendan Cummins. And it’s little wonder the manager will show such faith in the imposing goalkeeper.

Cummins came on the Tipperary panel first in 1993, when still a minor, made his championship debut two years later, against Waterford, and from then until 2007 the Ardfinnan native was an ever-present in the Tipperary number one shirt winning three All Star awards during a golden period for hurling goalkeeping.