The Mick Cashman Cup 2005.

The under 10 hurlers of Blackrock, Douglas, Sarsfields and Na Piarsaigh  are busy preparing for the finals of the Mick Cashman Cup which will be held at Church Road, Blackrock on Sunday 18^th September. Action commences at 2pm.

Known as the reluctant goalie, Mick Cashman holds a revered place in the annals of Blackrock hurling as he captained the 1956 Blackrock Senior team, which finally captured the County title after 25 frustrating years stretching back to 1931. He played that day in the centre back position against Glen Rovers.

In 1953 and 1954 Mick Cashman was sub keeper for Cork when they completed the three in a row titles. He played in possibly the most famous All- Ireland of all against Wexford in 1956. However it was as keeper for Munster that he really shone when he succeeded the famous Tony Reddan in 1957. He proceeded to win six Railway Cup medals between 1957 and 1963 giving some brilliant displays between the posts.

Among his contemporaries in Blackrock was Jimmy Brohan at corner back who also played for Blackrock, Cork and Munster and who shared many of the triumphs and disappointments of the time. Mick married Jimmy’s sister Anne. Two of their children Tom and Jim Cashman followed in their father’s footsteps on the hurling fields.

Tom won four All-Ireland hurling medals with Cork and captained the Rebels to their All-Ireland success in 1986. Jim also played for Cork, accompanying Tom in 86 and was a central figure in the Cork hurling team which contributed to the double in 1990.

Jimmy Brohan continues to coach the under 9 hurlers at Church Road each Saturday morning, and our  very best wishes go to him at present as he is recovering from a hip operation.  Tom coaches the under 6s and Jim works with various Super League teams continue the long tradition of passing on the skills of hurling to the new generations of Rockies.

The young boys across the city and county who began the quest on Saturday 21^st May to win the Mick Cashman Cup for 2005 will honour a man and a family who have made an enormous contribution to the game of hurling. The first winners of the Cup in 2003 were Ballinhassig after an amazing final at Church Road against the Rockies, while last year Na Piarsaigh emerged victorious. This year’s competition should provide its usual quota of surprises and shocks.