Bernard P. Cunningham (1939 – 19 January 2023) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. At club level played with Ballivor and at inter-county level with the Meath senior football team. Cunningham usually lined out as a centre-back.

Playing career

Cunningham first played Gaelic football and hurling at Killyon NS before later attending both Trim CBS and Trim Vocational School.[2] He won an All-Ireland Vocational Schools' medal with a Meath selection in 1956. At club level, Cunningham won county championship medals with the Ballivor juveniles in 1952 and 1954, before winning a Meath IFC title in 1971.

Cunningham first appeared on the inter-county scene with the Meath minor team that won the All-Ireland MFC title in 1957.[3] He immediately progressed to the junior team before making his senior team debut in an O'Byrne Cup game in 1958. Cunningham won the first of four Leinster SFC medals in 1964.[4] After losing the 1966 All-Ireland final to Galway, he was again at centre-back when Meath defeated Cork in the 1967 final.[5] Cunningham ended the All-Ireland-winning season by being named Texaco Footballer of the Year.

Coaching career

In retirement from playing, Cunningham was involved in coaching at all levels with Ballivor. He also spent a period as a selector with the Meath senior team.

Death

Cunningham died on 19 January 2023, at the age of 83.[6][7]

Honours

Ballivor
Meath

References

  1. ^ "Bernard P Cunningham in 1939". Find My Past website. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Meet the players". Irish Independent. 20 September 1967. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Minors road to glory in 1957". Hogan Stand. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Leinster Senior Football Finalists" (PDF). Leinster GAA website. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  5. ^ "The Men of '67: Bertie Cunningham". Hogan Stand. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Death of 1967 All-Ireland legend, Bertie Cunningham". The Meath Chronicle. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Meath All-Ireland winner Bertie Cunningham passes away". Irish Independent. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertie_Cunningham
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