| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Gearóid Mac Cuinneagáin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Born |
30 August 1961 Togher, Cork, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Occupation | Sports sponsorship manager | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
1979–1999 | St Finbarr's | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Cork titles | 6 | ||
| Munster titles | 1 | ||
| All-Ireland Titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1981–1999 | Cork | 50 (0-00) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 7 | ||
| All-Irelands | 3 | ||
| NHL | 3 | ||
| All Stars | 4 | ||
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.[1][2]
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.
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. He joined the Cork senior team in 1979. 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. 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. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 15 January 1999.[3]
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. 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.[4]
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.