Cummins is King of the Mountains
Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins put his championship disappointment behind him yesterday to claim his second M Donnelly-sponsored All-Ireland Poc Fada title in three years.
The Ballybacon-Grange clubman went around the 5 kilometre-long course in 52 pucks, beating his county colleague and the current All-Ireland SHC top-scorer Eoin Kelly into third place.
Kelly finished with 57 pucks, while Down goalkeeper Graham Clarke, the current Ulster Poc Fada champion, came home in second with 55.
The 31-year-old Cummins also lifted the Corn Cuailgne in 2004, becoming the first Tipperary hurler to win the County Louth-based event, thanks to a course record of 48 pucks.
Conditions over the Cooley mountains were rated as good despite a billowing cross wind.
Amongst the spectators were GAA President Nickey Brennan and Irish boxing stars Brendan Dunne and Matthew Macklin.
Birmingham-based light middleweight Macklin is a close friend of Kelly's. His mother hails from Tipperary and he was also a noted hurler during the childhood summers he spent in the Premier county.
The Tipp duo of Cummins and Kelly also walked away with the Comortas Beirte competition.
The Camogie Poc Fada title, in the third year of its existence, went to Westmeath's Mary Henry. The current Leinster champion completed the ladies course in a record 28 pucks.
On her first attempt, 15-year-old Patricia Jackman from Waterford finished a very credible second, two pucks behind Henry.
