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Kilkenny hurlers honoured at Garda Sportstar Awards

TWO Kilkenny hurling legends were among the winners at An Garda Síochána’s 16th annual Coiste Siamsa Sportstar Awards, held recently in Hotel Kilkenny. Eddie Brennan scooped the award in the hurling category for the sixth time, while Frank Cummins was the winner of the Hall of Fame award.

Cummins’s award was offered in recognition of his exceptional record in midfield for the Kilkenny side, where he won eight All-Ireland medals between 1967 and 1983 as well as four All-Star awards, three All-Ireland club titles with Blackrock (Cork), and a Hurler of the Year award in 1983. The citation for Cummins noted that the Cats failed to win Liam McCarthy for almost a decade after his retirement, and described the Knocktopher clubman as a “true colossus” of the game. Cummins joined the force in 1967 and was based in Cork for most of his service.

Brennan, who is stationed in Portlaoise, was honoured for another remarkable year in the Kilkenny full-forward line, where the Graigue-Ballycallan clubman won his seventh senior All-Ireland medal as well as his tenth Leinster title.

The Coiste Siamsa Sportstar Awards are a celebration of the sporting achievements of the members of An Garda Síochána, and honour those in the force who have excelled in sport locally, nationally and internationally.

The awards were presented on Friday 27th November by Jimmy Magee of RTÉ, who was MC for the evening and who had also chaired the awards selection committee.