The Mick Cashman Cup 2006.

Sunday 24th September will see the finals of the Mick Cashman Cup take place at Church Road. The semi-finals in the Cup and Plate competitions will begin at 2pm with the finals timed to begin at 4pm. The under 10 hurlers of Blackrock, Douglas, St.Finbarrs, Eire Og and Bishopstown are busy preparing for these finals having already competed in games at venues throughout the city over May and June.

A unique feature in 2006 was that St.Finbarrs, Douglas and Blackrock entered two teams each, with Eire Og and Bishopstown entering one team each. This has resulted from the cooperation of the clubs to ensure full participation of all the youngsters rather than concentrating on success for a few. Each team has played in seven games while an amazing total of 28 full games of hurling have already been played in a fantastic spirit among the participating clubs.

Jody Crowley, the coordinator for the competition is delighted with the response,

"The cooperation of all the participating clubs has been excellent and the matches have been played in the right spirit" "We want to reward all the youngsters who have taken part and give them a further day out in what is really a festival of hurling on Sunday 24th September"

The competition is a fitting tribute to the man 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 won the County title after 25 frustrating years stretching back to 1931. He played on that never to be forgotten Sunday in the centre back position against a Glen Rovers team containing the great Christy Ring. A large gathering at Church Road recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of this great win.

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 displayed his hurling skills 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 alongside his friend the legendary Jimmy Brohan. These games were played in front of huge crowds in Croke Park and generated tremendous excitement.

Jimmy Brohan at corner back also played for Blackrock, Cork and Munster and they shared many of the triumphs and disappointments of the time. Mick married Jimmy's sister Anne. Two of their children Tom and Jim Cashman went on to achieve fame on the hurling fields.

Tom won four All-Ireland hurling medals with Cork and four county medals with Blackrock while captaining 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 famous double in 1990. He gave man of the match performances in the County finals of 1985 and 1999.

Jimmy Brohan continues to coach the under 10 hurlers at Church Road each Saturday morning, and he will patrol the sidelines on Sunday next encouraging both the under 10 Blackrock and Rocky teams. Tom Cashman coaches the Blackrock under 7s while Jim works with various Super League teams continuing the long tradition of passing on the skills and tradition of hurling to the new generations of Rockies.

The 200 young boys across the city and county who are participating in the Mick Cashman Cup for 2006 will be honouring a man and a family who have made a vast contribution to the game of hurling. It is hoped to extend the competition across the entire city in 2007 with the total emphasis being on full participation by all 10 year old hurlers in each club. What more fitting tribute to this great hurler?