Frank Cummins (born 9 November 1947) is an Irish former hurler who played as a midfielder at senior level for the Kilkenny county team.
[1][2] Born in Knocktopher, County Kilkenny, Cummins first played competitive Gaelic games whilst at school in Belcamp College.
He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team, before later joining the under-21 side.
As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team at various times throughout his career, Cummins won six Railway Cup medals.
Cummins first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor hurling team in the early 1960s.
By this stage he had already joined the Kilkenny senior hurling team, making his debut in an Oireachtas game in 1966.
The following year he was a non-playing substitute as Kilkenny captured both Leinster and All-Ireland honours, however, it wasn't until 1969 that Cummins found a regular place on the team at midfield.
As the first All-Ireland final to be broadcast by RTÉ in colour, the nation saw Kilkenny's Eddie Keher score a remarkable 2 goals and 11 points and still end up on the losing side.
One of the most abiding memories of that game is of Cummins collecting the sliothar in his own midfield area before making a magnificent solo-run all the way towards the Cork goal before firing a shot past goalkeeper Paddy Barry.
The goal levelled the score and gave Kilkenny the impetus to go on and win the match, giving Cummins a second All-Ireland medal.
Cummins’ side, as the reigning champions, were credited as the favourites to win, however, a goal from Mossie Dowling and a rampant attack spearheaded by Richie Bennis saw victory go to Limerick on a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-14.
In a repeat of the previous year Limerick provided the opposition, however, revenge was foremost in the minds of Kilkenny supporters.
In 1975 Kilkenny defeated Wexford for the fifth consecutive year in the provincial final, giving Cummins a fifth Leinster medal in a row.
Cummins later lined out in yet another All-Ireland final with surprise semi-final winners Galway providing the opposition on this occasion.
For the second time in five years, Galway provided the opposition in the championship decider, however, Cummins collected a fifth winners’ medal that day as victory went to Kilkenny in the worst All-Ireland final of the decade.
Cummins started the year by collecting his second National League medal before later winning a ninth Leinster title.
Wexford put an end to Kilkenny's hopes of capturing a third All-Ireland title in a row in 1984, a defeat which led to Cummins’ retirement from inter-county hurling.