Brendan Cummins rules himself out of the Waterford hurling manager's job

Tipperary legend confirms he will take at least 12 months away from management after stepping down as Premier U20 boss

Brendan Cummins has ended speculation linking him with the vacant Waterford senior hurling manager's position, confirming that he has no intention of returning to inter-county management next season.

The Ballybacon Grange clubman, who stepped down as Tipperary U20 manager last week after five years in charge, had emerged as one of the names being linked with the Déise vacancy following Peter Queally's departure.

However, the two-time All-Ireland senior medal winner says he plans to step away from management for at least the next 12 months before considering any future return to the sidelines. Speaking on RTÉ's ‘The Sunday Game’ after the All-Ireland final between Limerick and Galway, Cummins revealed that his focus is on taking a well-earned break after five demanding seasons with Tipperary's U20s.

"I'm not going to be managing any team in 2027 anyway. I had five amazing years with the Tipperary U-20s," he said.

Cummins explained that he had always viewed the role as an opportunity to give something back to his county after everything hurling had given him throughout his career.

"I'd seen Tommy Dunne and Liam Cahill do it. You always feel like you've a debt. I always found anyway, Tipperary has been so good to me, I said I'd do something back and I did and I had a great five years."

His tenure included an All-Ireland U20 title in 2025 and back-to-back Munster championships in 2024 and 2025. Tipperary also reached this year's provincial final, where their hopes of completing a Munster three-in-a-row ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat to Clare.

Reflecting on that loss, Cummins admitted it was a disappointing way to finish but reiterated his desire to step away from management for the time being.

"It's a pity that the Clare goalie in that Munster final was able to stop two bullets of penalties and stopped our three-in-a-row bid, but I'll take 12 months out and then see what the world looks like after that."

Cummins, who continues to line out in goals for Ballybacon Grange at 51 years of age, has left the door open to a future return to management but insists that will not be before 2028.

With the Tipperary legend no longer in contention, former Waterford forward Stephen Molumphy is now widely regarded as the leading candidate to take charge of the Déise senior hurlers.