Maher calls on young guns to fill void left by ‘best ever’ Cummins

Tipperary star Brendan Maher has called on the Premier County’s young guns to step up to the plate following the retirement of 38-year-old goalkeeper Brendan Cummins.

Maher described Cummins as one of his all-time heroes but now wants a core group of players in their mid-20s to emerge as leaders in their own right.

“It’s up to the younger lads to step up and take more responsibility and more leadership,” said the 24-year-old midfielder.

“This is a team that’s changing. We have had a few lads retire, like Benny Dunne, Declan Fanning, Shane Maher and now Brendan. It’s time for us to step up to the plate and start a new era.”

Maher, who made his championship debut in 2009, said it was a “surreal experience” to play alongside Cummins, who was one of his idols growing up.

Maher, Tipp’s vice-captain in 2013, explained: “I was only a young fella, five or six, when I started hurling. He [Cummins] was always one of my heroes and to play with him for the first time in 2009 was not a daunting experience but surreal because I couldn’t believe that I was playing with one of my heroes.

“He was such a help to the younger lads, talking to us after training and telling us about little different things to get used to and how to deal with different situations.

“I know the other lads would feel the same way because he was a fantastic leader in the dressing room too. Any time he spoke, everyone listened. He might not say a whole pile but when he did speak, it was always meaningful and lads would take in on board.”

Maher won two Munster titles and an All-Ireland senior crown in 2010 alongside Cummins and thinks the chance is there for a new man to step in between the sticks.

“We’ve been very lucky with goalkeepers in the last number of years. We’ve had two excellent goalkeepers in Brendan and Darren [Gleeson].

“I’m sure Brendan would always credit Darren for pushing him as hard as he did in the last number of years. But it’s not just a case of Darren stepping in. There are U21 and minor goalies coming through and it’s open season all over the field.

“It’s going to be great to see the door opening for a couple of other lads and I’m sure they’ll be brought in and tried out. I’m obviously disappointed to see Brendan go because he’s such a character but we have to move on. He was an unreal servant and in my opinion, the best goalkeeper to wear the jersey, ever.”

Tipp defender Paudie Maher echoed Brendan Maher’s sentiments as he too paid a rich tribute to Cummins, a two-time All-Ireland SHC medallist in 2001 and 2010.

“He was outstanding and eventually in 2009 I got the chance to play with him. You couldn’t play with better – he was always there for advice and everything.

“He’ll go down as the best Tipp keeper of all time and possibly one of the best to ever play the game.

He’s leaving a big void but it’s up to the rest of us to step up.”