Tom Cashman

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Tom Cashman
irish = Tomás Ó Cíosáin
fullname = Thomas Cashman
placeofbirth = Blackrock
countryofbirth = County Cork
dob =
height =
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Blackrock
clposition = Midfield
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Half-back
icyears = 1977-1988
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 8
icallireland = 4
nhl = 2
allstars = 3
clupdate =
icupdate =

Tom Cashman (born 1957 in Blackrock, County Cork) is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1977 until 1988. Cashman later served as manager of the Cork senior inter-county team from 2000 until 2001.

Cashman's status as one of Cork's all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for eleven years he won four All-Ireland titles, eight Munster titles, two National Hurling League titles and three Railway Cup titles. Cashman has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. Throughout his career he was presented with three All-Star awards and was named, by popular opinion, in the right wing-back position on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century in 2000.

Cashman was astonishingly skilful, as skilful as ever there was. He could lift a ball in a melee of players better than anyone and had extraordinary first touch. One memorable vignette was in a National League game against Tipperary. A Tipp back was running out bouncing the ball on his hurley when Cashman came from behind, flicked the ball which came over the Tipp man's shoulder. Cashman doubled on it and it sailed between the posts for a point. The Tipp back looked around in astonishment. On another day against Clare, Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Seán Stack went up for a high ball. As it fell to earth Cashman, who was waiting below, met the ball in midair and put it between the posts with a simple double.

Early life

Tom Cashman was born in Blackrock just outside Cork City in 1957. He was born into a family that was steeped in hurling excellence. His father, Mick Cashman, was a legendary goalkeeper with Blackrock and Cork during the 1950s and 1960s. Cashman's uncle, Jimmy Brohan, was also a famed inter-county hurler. He played with Cork in the 1950s and 1960s and, in spite of never winning an All-Ireland medal, is regarded as one of the all-time greats of the game. Other relatives also had sporting success in various codes, including soccer and camogie.

Cashman had his own hurling success at an early age. In 1971 he won the inaugural Féile na nGael competition with Blackrock. This was an inter-county hurling competition for players under the age of fifteen. Cashman followed in his father's footsteps by playing in goal; however, he soon made the switch to become an outfield player.

Playing career

Club

Cashman played his club hurling with the famous Blackrock club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1978 following a victory over Glen Rovers. This was subsequently converted into a Munster club title. Cashman later won an All-Ireland club title following a victory in the club final over Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny. He won a second county medal in 1979 as well as a second consecutive Munster club title. Cashman won a third and final county title in 1985.

Cashman also played club Gaelic football with ‘the Rockies’ sister club St. Michael’s. He played in three consecutive county finals between 1976 and 1978; however, he ended up on the losing side on all three occasions.

Inter-county

Cashman first came to prominence as a dual player on the inter-county scene with Cork in the mid-1970s. In 1974 he won a Munster minor title with the hurlers while also claiming a Munster minor title with the footballers. These double provincial victories were later converted into and All-Ireland hurling victory over Kilkenny and an All-Ireland football victory over Mayo. It was a rare achievement at any level.

In 1975 Cashman moved up to the under-21 grade in hurling. That year he added a Munster under-21 medal to his collection before later lining out in the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion and were victorious.

1976 saw Cashman win a second Munster under-21 before lining out in another All-Ireland final. Kilkenny were the opponents once again, however, Cork reversed the defeat of the previous year and Cashman collected a coveted All-Ireland medal in that grade.

In 1977 Cashman collected a third consecutive Munster under-21 title before lining out in a third successive championship decider. Once again Kilkenny were the opposition, however, they claimed the victory. By this stage Cashman had already made his debut with the Cork senior team. That year he won his Munster title following a thrilling victory over Clare in the provincial decider. For the second year in-a-row Cork lined out in an All-Ireland final against Wexford. The game was just as exciting as the previous year's with Seánie O'Leary scoring the goal that gave Cork the lead. 'The Rebels' went on to win the game on a score line of 1-17 to 3-8 giving Cashman his first All-Ireland medal at senior level. His impact was so great in his first full season that he was later presented with his first All-Star award.

In 1978 the prospect of completing a first three-in-a-row since the 1950s loomed large for Cork. That year Cashman captured a second Munster medal as Cork defeated Clare in a close and tense game. Age-old rivals Kilkenny provided the opposition in the championship decider; however, their great team of the 1970s was now in decline. The game ebbed and flowed for much of the seventy minutes with no side breaking away. With thirteen minutes left Jimmy Barry-Murphy hit a low shot in towards the goal and it bounced in past Noel Skehan. That goal turned out to be the deciding factor as Cork went on to win the game and Cashman captured a second All-Ireland medal as Cork completed the three-in-a-row. He later collected a second All-Star award.

In 1979 Cashman won a third consecutive Munster title, however, a fourth All-Ireland medal in-a-row proved beyond even this great team as Cork were beaten in the semi-final by Galway.

Cork lost their provincial crown in 1980, however, Cashman continued with his winning ways by capturing a National Hurling League medal. He won a second National Hurling League title in 1981, however, Cork were defeated in the provincial championship once again.

In 1982 Cork were back. That year Cashman won a fourth Munster title before playing in his third All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. 'The Cats', however, completely overwhelmed Cork who suffered a heavy defeat – 3-18 to 1-15.

Cashman won a fifth Munster medal in 1983 as Waterford fell heavily again. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Kilkenny provided the opposition once again. 'The Cats' used a strong wind to build up their lead in the first-half. Two goals from Tomás Mulcahy and Seánie O'Leary nearly saved the day for Cork, however, Kilkenny hung on to win by two points. In spite of the defeat Cashman collected a third and final All-Star award.

In 1984 Cork continued to dominate the provincial championship and Cashman won a sixth Munster medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance to the centenary year All-Ireland final against Offaly at Semple Stadium. In the one hundred year history of the Gaelic Athletic Association these two teams had never met in the championship. The stakes were high for Cork as no team had ever lost three All-Ireland finals in-a-row. Offaly put up a good fight, however, it was Cork's day and Cashman captured a third All-Ireland medal.

The following year Cashman won a seventh Munster medal as Cork narrowly defeated Tipperary in the provincial final. Galway, however, put an end to Cork's championship hopes in the All-Ireland semi-final for the third time in ten years.

In 1986 Cashman was joined on the team by his brother Jim as Cork won a fifth consecutive Munster title following a victory over Clare. It was his eighth and final provincial title. Cork, who were complete underdogs, later faced Galway in the All-Ireland final. In a thrilling game the Munster men hung on to win by four points, giving Cashman a fourth All-Ireland hurling medal.

In 1987 Cork were attempting to make history by winning a record sixth Munster title in-a-row. Tipperary provided the opposition on that occasion, however, the game ended in a draw. The replay in FitzGerald Stadium, Killarney has gone down in history as one of the great provincial finals. At full-time both sides were level again and extra time was played. Tipp eventually won the day by 4-22 to 1-22. Tipp triumphed over Cork again in 1988. This was Cashman’s last game for Cork and he retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.

Provincial

Cashman also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition and enjoyed much success. He first played for his province in the Railway Cup in 1978 and captured his first winners’ medal that year. Wall captured further titles in 1981 and 1985.

Managerial career

In retirement from hurling Cashman remained involved in the game. He was a selector when Jimmy Barry-Murphy steered Cork to an All-Ireland final victory over Kilkenny in 1999. When Barry-Murphy resigned the following year Cashman took over as manager. Unfortunately, his reign as manager was not as successful as his playing career. Cork were defeated in the Munster Championship by Limerick and were eventually knocked out in the All-Ireland qualifiers by Galway. Cashman subsequently resigned as manager after just one season in charge.

It was around this time that Cashman’s reputation as one of Cork’s all-time greats was cemented as he was named on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century.

Teams

References

* Corry, Eoghan, "The GAA Book of Lists" (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
* Fullam, Brendan, "Captains of the Ash" (Wolfhound Press, 2002).

External links

* [http://munster.gaa.ie/teams/seniorhurling.html Munster final winning teams]
* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Cork/Profile.aspx Cork GAA honours]