Ger Cunningham

Gerard Cunningham (born 30 August 1961) is an Irish hurling manager and former player who played for Cork Senior Championship club St Finbarr's.

He played for the Cork senior hurling team for 20 years, during which time he lined out as a goalkeeper.

Unchallenged in the number one position for his entire career, Cunningham is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Ger Cunningham was born in Cork in 1961.

He was educated locally at Sullivan's Quay national school where he was first introduced to the game of hurling by Brother Moloughney, a hurling enthusiast from Tipperary.

Cunningham later attended Colaiste Íognáid Rís where Billy Morgan nurtured his Gaelic football skills.

He currently works as a sales representative with Bord Gáis, an Irish energy company.

Cunningham joined the St Finbarr's club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels without success.

At inter-county level, Cunningham was part of the successful Cork minor team that won back-to-back All-Ireland Championships in 1978 and 1979 before later winning an All-Ireland Championship with the under-21 team in 1982.

Cunningham began his hurling career at club level with St Finbarr's. He broke onto the club's top adult team as a 17-year-old in 1979 and had his first success the following year when the club won the 1980 Munster Club Championship.

Cunningham was the St Finbarr's first-choice goalkeeper for almost twenty years, during which time he also won six Cork Championship titles.

He joined the Cork senior team in 1979.

He was just 18-years-old when he joined the St Finbarr's senior team as first-choice goalkeeper in advance of the 1979 Championship.

On 7 October 1979, Cunningham lined out in goal when St Finbarr's faced Blackrock in the final; however, he ended the game on the losing side after a 2-14 to 2-06 defeat.

On 12 October 1980, Cunningham lined out in a second successive final when St Finbarr's faced Glen Rovers.

He ended the game with his first winners' medal following a 1-09 to 2-04 victory.

Cunningham claimed a Munster Championship medal on 12 October 1980 after a 2-12 to 1-14 defeat of Roscrea in the Munster final.

The All-Ireland final on 17 May 1981 saw St Finbarr's suffer a 1-15 to 1-11 defeat by Ballyhale Shamrocks, with Cunningham once again lining out in goal.

St Finbarr's qualified for a third successive final on 13 September 1981, with Cunningham once again lining out in goal against Glen Rovers.

He ended the game with a second successive championship medal following the 1-12 to 1-09 victory.

On 10 October 1982, Cunningham played in his fourth successive final when St Finbarr's faced Blackrock.

He ended the game with a third successive winners' medal as well as being named man of the match after the 2-17 to 3-09 victory.

For the fifth successive season, St Finbarr's qualified for the final with Cunningham lining out in goal against Midleton.

For the second time in his career he ended on the losing side after a 1-18 to 2-09 defeat.

During that time he was part of three All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1984, 1986 and 1990.

Cunningham also secured seven Munster Championship medals and three National Hurling League medals.

At inter-provincial level, Cunningham was selected to play in eight championship campaigns with Munster, winning Railway Cup medals in 1984, 1985 and 1992.

He won his first All-Star in 1984, before claiming a further three All-Stars in 1985, 1986 and 1990.

Cunningham lined out in a sixth successive final on 30 September 1984 when St Finbarr's faced Ballyhea.

He claimed a fourth championship winners' medal overall after the 1-15 to 2-04 victory.

After being named Hurler of the Year in 1986, Cunningham has been repeatedly voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including as goalkeeper on the Cork Hurling Team of the Millennium.

In retirement from playing Cunningham became involved in team management and coaching.

At club level he has taken charge of St Finbarr's and University College Cork and guided Ballygunner to Waterford Senior Championship success in Waterford.

He is also an All-Ireland-winning goalkeeping coach and selector with the Cork senior team, while he served as manager of the Dublin senior hurling team for three seasons.

Cunningham was appointed captain of the team in advance of the 1988 Championship.

On 16 October 1988, he captained the team to a final appearance against Glen Rovers.

Cunningham ended the game with a fifth winners' medal after the 3-18 to 2-14 victory, while he also had the honour of lifting the Seán Óg Murphy Cup on behalf of the team.

On 14 October 1990, Cunningham made his eighth final appearance when he lined out in goal in a 3-06 to 1-12 draw with Na Piarsaigh.

From his debut, Cunningham was ever-present as a goalkeeper and made a combined total of 161 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 1998.

He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 15 January 1999.