While local hero Paul Dunne failed to retain the title, there was still plenty to celebrate at Annaverna on Saturday August 14 as Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins broke the course record to claim the 2004 Poc Fada na hEireann crown. History was made in 2003 when Knockbridge's Paul Dunne became the first Louth man to win the All-Ireland Poc Fada title. In 2004, more history was made: nobody was able to match Premier County big-hitter Brendan Cummins, who slashed three pocs off the course record for the 5km trek, coming home with an amazing return of 48 pocs. From his opening strike and right through his momentous journey across Cooley's spectacular landscape, it was a stunning performance from the Ballybacon Grange clubman, who is a worthy 'King of the Mountain'. Cummins has been a regular visitor to the Cooley Mountains for the event for a number of years and it was a joy to behold as the All-Ireland winning and All Star Premier County netminder finally tamed the unforgiving cross-mountain terrain at the fourth attempt. It's an arduous and gruelling test as these gladiators of the long puck discipline take to the wild, rugged topography of the Cooley Mountains, overlooking Dundalk Bay and offering breathtaking glimpses of the Mourne Mountains. Man against nature. And every year, man comes out on top. In 2004, that man's name was Cummins. On three previous occasions, Brendan had failed to land the Martin Donnelly sponsored All-Ireland Poc Fada title. Maybe it was the switch from its traditional date on August Bank Holiday weekend or perhaps it was the Premier County's disappointing summer, but for some reason the Tipp man was taking no prisoners in '04 as he streaked an impressive blaze across the mountaintop. Nobody ever doubted Cummins' ability to hit big. After all, his lengthy puck-outs have been a potent piece of armoury in Tipperary's attack for many years. But few could have predicted that the big custodian would make such a mockery of the existing course record of 51. There were three former winners included in the field in 2004 (including the course's record holder Davy Fitzgerald), and even these must have been in awe of Cummins' sweet, precise striking. Louth's Paul Dunne had captured the title twelve months earlier; Clare goalkeeper Fitzgerald had reigned supreme twice and went into the '04 event as clear bookies' favourite; while Limerick goalie Albert Shanahan was taking on the treacherous mountain course for the first time, having won the title in 2001 when it was switched to Dowdallshill Racecourse due to the rampant threat of Foot & Mouth disease. Shanahan put in a superb performance considering that he had never taken on the Annaverna course before. He finished second, but was still a full six pucks behind the winner. That statistic in itself speaks volumes for Brendan Cummins' complete dominance of the event in 2004. The Gods seem to smile on this event every year. And it was the same again in 2004. Though it was held back until the middle of August, the weather was close to ideal. The start was delayed for an hour or so to allow some low mist to clear off the highest peaks of the course, but from there on no difficulties were encountered. And so the competitors set off from An Beann Rock and the honour of taking the first poc of the day fell to Galway hurler Aidan Ryan, runner-up to Davy Fitz in 2002. Two debutants followed Aidan in the persons of Wexford's Leon O'Connell and Joe McEldowney from Derry, both of whom got their bids off the ground hopefully. These were followed by the runner-up from 2003, Wicklow's Tom Finn, another man who was fancied to go close. There were four recognised 'big hitters' in the field and these started in the last four positions, to add to the excitement of the competition. Cummins let fly with the first shot of his historic round, followed out across the mountain by Fitzgerald and Shanahan. As defending champion, Dunne was last to enter the natural, scenic arena. As well as the finish, there are three intermediate points along the way, where scorecards are marked - An Ceide, Carn An Mhadaigh and An Gabhlan. The winner reached An Ceide in 15 pocs and streaked clear of the field by reaching Carn An Mhadaigh in 34, four pucks clear of his nearest rivals. He retained that lead comfortably, with a series of enormous hits and broke the record with another particularly strong surge between An Gabhlan and the finish. His finishing tally was 48 pocs + 33 metres. As is customary, each competitor was accompanied by a four-man team known as a "meitheal". These (the Feighli Scoir, Maur, Giolla and Gasog) comprised members of local clubs from Armagh and Louth. There was only one poc separating nine competitors by the time the first intermediate point was reached but the leader board changed significantly over the second section of the course, a stretch taking in spectacular views of Carlingford and Greenore. The views didn't distract the man from Tipp, however, as he opened a four-shot lead and moved six clear of the defending champion. The remainder of the course is downhill, so it was fairly apparent that nobody would catch the Tipperary 'keeper. Ryan came home on 57 pocs, almost three hours after setting out. His total was 57 pucks, as were those of Michael Flannery (Tipperary) and Leon O'Connell. Flannery was ahead though because he finished furthest over the finishing line. Then Colm Kelly came in on 56 and the Roscommon man was still in the lead four finishers later. However, word began to filter through that Cummins had reached An Gabhlan on 40 pucks and it was inevitable that the course record would be beaten. And so it came to pass that the Tipp goalie romped home on an astounding 48 … averaging better than 100 metres per puck. Davy Fitz came in on 55 but was immediately pushed out of second place by Shanahan who came home on 54. A big cheer was reserved for local favourite Paul Dunne. Last year's champion finished the course in 57 pucks, three more than he had managed in 2003. Five players finished with fewer pucks than the Knockbridge man. Not only did Cummins break the course record previously held by his Clare counterpart Fitzgerald, he also became the first ever Tipperary man to lift Corn Setanta. After this amazing feat, Poc Fada Craobh na hEireann secretary Pat McGinn paid tribute to the new King of the Cooley Mountains: "From the very first poc, everyone knew from the distance Brendan Cummins was getting with his sliothar that if he maintained that form then the record was up for grabs." The winner and runner-up combined to also win the pairs competition, Comortais Beirte, with a combined total of 102. In conjunction with the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Camogie Association of Ireland, a camogie Poc Fada competition also took place in 2004, with seven camogie players representing the four provinces and the UK. Two Louth girls (Anne Marie King and Eilish Mulholland) were included amongst the line-up, which competed over an improvised course that went from the men's finishing line to An Gabhlan and back. The winner was Stephanie Gannon from Galway, on 32 pucks. A total of twelve hurlers had taken to the Annaverna Mountain to compete for the 2004 Poc Fada na hEireann title, trekking across approximately four miles of rough mountain terrain in one of the most unique disciplines in Irish support. The event generates only moderate interest each year - and more's the pity because it is something truly special. The Poc Fada was first contested in 1961 and the inaugural winner was Brother Vincent Godfrey. Legendary Kilkenny goalkeeper Ollie Walsh won the following year, beginning an ongoing link between the event and magnificent goalkeepers from the world of hurling - Ger Cunningham, Davy Fitzgerald, Tommy Quaid. Brendan Cummins is the latest name to go onto that list. Tweet

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