SECOND CUMMINS
Boss backs Graham on return
GRAHAM CUMMINS is being challenged to pick up where he left off from having rejoined champions Cork City.
The striker, 30, signed for the Rebels over the weekend after St Johnstone agreed to rip up the remaining six months of his contract.
David Mcmillan’s recent arrival at the Perth-based club from Dundalk will have pushed Cummins down the pecking order.
Cork are still trying to figure out where their firepower will come from after goalmachine Sean Maguire joined Preston North End last summer.
Cummins will compete in attack with Karl Sheppard and Josh O’hanlon, who signed earlier in the winter from St Patrick’s Athletic.
Leesider Cummins knows all about the club and fans remember his dramatic injury-time winner at Tolka Park which clinched the First Division title in 2012.
That was his parting gift before joining Preston and he then had spells at Rochdale (loan), Exeter City and in Scotland with St Johnstone.
Rebels boss John Caulfield said: “We’ve been working extremely hard over the last while to identify players who fit the profile we’re looking for.
“It was about trying to get Graham here in January. He was still under contract and I know his club wanted to wait until the summer. But we didn’t want to wait and, to be fair to Graham, he had the bit between his teeth that he wanted to get it done.
“We’ve managed to agree for him to come to us in time for pre-season.”
Cork City had been through the ringer when Cummins last played for them and the current version are unrecognisable from those testing days.
Caulfield added: “Graham had a phenomenal record in his previous spell with the club but we’re in a different place now compared to when he left.
“The challenge for him is to come in and compete with Karl Sheppard and Josh O’hanlon.
“We have options now – Shep who has established himself, Graham who has been an excellent goalscorer here before and Josh, who has tremendous potential.
“Graham is in the prime of his career and has a great opportunity here now. He’s under no illusions as to what is needed.
“There’s a massive challenge ahead, but it’s an exciting challenge for a guy like Graham to see if he can cement his place and score goals.
“There are huge expectations on all of the front players; the challenge for them is to handle playing in front of 5,000-plus and deliver every week.”