Cunningham will have two teams to support on Sunday

It’s not often that somebody has close connections with two different teams on the day of the All-Ireland senior club finals.

But that’s the situation for Anthony Cunningham on Sunday, with St Brigid’s contesting the football final at 3.30pm and his home club St Thomas’ of Galway facing Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels in the hurling decider (1.30).

Cunningham’s son John is part of the St Brigid’s panel and he scored a vital point when introduced as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Castlehaven. It wasn’t the first time John made a telling impact off the bench over the course of the season.

Living in the Curramore area, Cunningham is a former St Brigid’s manager who enjoyed Roscommon and Connacht success with the club. Ironically, Cunningham was on the opposing side to St Brigid’s in 2012 when his Garrycastle charges famously overcame the Kiltoom men in an All-Ireland semi-final.

In 2019, Cunningham led Roscommon to Connacht SFC success, defeating his native Galway in the final.

During his time as Galway senior hurling manager, Cunningham led the Tribesmen to All-Ireland final appearances on two occasions.

As a player, Cunningham was an All-Ireland senior hurling medal winner with Galway in 1987 and 1988, but senior club success with St Thomas’ eluded him as their breakthrough came later.

In 2023, St Thomas’ won their sixth Galway senior hurling in a row – a remarkable achievement for the Kilchreest/Peterswell club in what is a very competitive championship.

They didn’t win their first title until 2012 but now have eight senior hurling crowns to their credit.

Interestingly, St Thomas’ won their only All-Ireland title in 2013, defeating Kilcormac/Killoughey of Offaly on the same day that Brigid’s claimed the football crown by edging out Ballymun Kickhams. No doubt, Anthony Cunningham would dearly love for history to repeat itself next Sunday.