Cummins set to commit to Tipp for another season

THIS being the off-season, the days and weeks tend to be pockmarked with talk of those stepping away from the carousel that is the inter-county scene, but Brendan Cummins intends staying on for one more spin at the very least.

At 36, the Tipperary goalkeeper is a decade older than ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, who walked away from Kilkenny last week, and is further down the road than most if not all of those veterans advised by Liam Dunne to cash in on their Wexford careers.

Up until now, Cummins batted away questions about his intentions for 2012 by insisting no-one had a right to expect a place in the squad until they took a call from Declan Ryan. But he has finally nailed his colours to the mast.

“I probably will end up going back alright. I will. We haven’t had any contact since the All-Ireland final and, I suppose, like all players, you are waiting for that phone call to see what’s going on. If Declan rings, I will be happy enough to throw my hat in the ring.”

Players of his vintage sometimes have a tendency to stagger their seasonal bows. League campaigns are sacrificed on the altar of seniority in an effort to lessen the strain on ageing bones, but that isn’t a route Cummins recognises.

He will be there in the muck and the cold of Dr Morris Park when Tipperary kick off their preparations under the watchful eyes of new physical trainer Ross Dunphy.

“I try to be as fit as everybody else in there. In the goals, flexibility is a key thing and unless you are fit you are not going to be able to reach places that the ball is going quick enough, especially these days because the ball is going so fast.”

He has long been hailed as one of the finest goalkeepers of what many believe to be the post’s finest generation, but he still talks about not wanting to be perceived as a “dead weight” after almost two decades of service.

His fallout with Babs Keating four years ago has something to do with that. “I got the kick in the backside in 2007 (when he was dropped) so I know what it is like on the other side of the fence and it is not pretty. The day you can’t go out and train is the day that you just pack it in because the young fella coming in trying to take your place is doing all the things that he should be.”

Hurling still drives him, but so too does a natural desire to maintain his fitness. Which explains why he still runs 10 to 15 miles a week.

He will continue to do so long after the last sentence is written on his inter-county career. He admits that such thoughts permeated the 2011 season and it is hard to escape the feeling that his mind wouldn’t have turned towards retirement had Tipp retained the title.

The fact they didn’t wasn’t the biggest disappointment. Worse was their failure to launch in the final against Kilkenny, and amends will be sought in the 10 months to come.

Before that there is the not insignificant matter of a relegation game against Cashel King Cormacs. Ballybacon-Grange won the tie last September but the tie has since been declared null and void as there was no provision under rule for the extra-time played.

“I’d heard the rumours going on around the place and the whole lot with it so I distanced myself from it to be honest because in the off-season boardrooms wreck my head,” said Cummins. “I just want to play.”