BRENDAN CUMMINS belongs to what is regrettably a dying breed in the GAA - the top level dual player. The 22 year old encounters the pressures his status creates this weekend when he lines out for the Tipperary hurlers and footballers in crucial League and championship ties.
On Saturday evening the Ardfinnan footballer and Ballybacon Grange hurler will stand between the Tipperary hurling posts, as he has being doing since 1993. The hurling match in Thurles against Kilkenny is of crucial importance in terms of relegation: a six point defeat for Tipperary and a six point win for Clare against Wexford would see Tipperary relegated.
On Sunday, Cummins lines out at left corner forward when Tipperary's footballers meet Waterford in the first round of the Munster championship. His performance after coming on as a substitute against Limerick in the preliminary round replay clinched his starting place. Cummins's introduction for the second half that day resulted in a personal tally of eight points (three from frees).
He believes there is no difference in commitment between the football and hurling panels. "The attitude of the footballers is the exact same as the hurlers, wicked commitment," says Cummins. "Nobody in the foot ball panel thinks, oh God, we haven't a hope here. We all have our hearts set on one thing, that we can win.
"People in the county should never get the idea that the footballers are any way less committed. Maybe a little more belief in ourselves towards the end of matches against the bigger teams is required," says Cummins.
He recalls his football championship debut in 1994. "We ran Cork close in the final. We were a point ahead with a few minutes remaining, but O'Driscoll (John) got the goal that turned the game upside down. They tagged on a few points after that. Against Kerry last year we were level with them after 60 minutes," he says.
Tipperary are not helped this Sunday by the continued absence of Peter Lambert who returns from honeymoon on the day of the match. The absence of Declan Browne will also be a huge handicap.
"I have always regarded a match against Waterford as a tough battle, perhaps because of the fact that both teams fancy their chances.
"With Declan Browne missing as well as Lambert, it is a bit of a downer for us. It could make us slight underdogs."
Saturday's hurling League match against Kilkenny fades almost into insignificance when compared with the June 15th Munster hurling championship date with Limerick.
"Limerick have something over us and we don't know exactly what it is or how to explain it," says Cummins. "They have a club spirit, they have been there so long together. They have a settled team, they are picking off, say, 17 players who are fine good hurlers, whereas we mightn't be as settled. Having them in Thurles, though, is a help to us."
Playing between the posts in hurling does not put any huge physical demands on Cummins. The possibility of a football injury is a worry, though. "The ball coming down on top of my fingers, something simple like that which would disrupt my hurling career is worrying," he admits. "Touch wood, though, I have been injury free up to now.
He hasn't trained with the footballers since the replay in Clonmel (hurling has first call), but will be back with them tomorrow night. So far he has won an All Ireland B football medal and an under 21 All Ireland hurling medal, both claimed in 1995.
