Bertie Cunningham
Irish Gaelic footballer (1939–2023)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Beircheart Mac Cuinneagáin | ||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Born | 1939[1] Ballivor, County Meath, Ireland | ||
| Died | (aged 83) Ballivor, County Meath, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| Ballivor Killyon | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Meath titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1958–1972 | Meath | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 4 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| NFL | 0 | ||
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
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1967
- Leinster Senior Football Championship: 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970
- All-Ireland Minor Football Championship: 1957
- Leinster Minor Football Championship: 1957
References
- ^ "Bernard P Cunningham in 1939". Find My Past website. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Meet the players". Irish Independent. 20 September 1967. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Minors road to glory in 1957". Hogan Stand. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Leinster Senior Football Finalists" (PDF). Leinster GAA website. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "The Men of '67: Bertie Cunningham". Hogan Stand. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Death of 1967 All-Ireland legend, Bertie Cunningham". The Meath Chronicle. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Meath All-Ireland winner Bertie Cunningham passes away". Irish Independent. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
