Keane Cup win over Mayfield gave some bit of relief to manager Graham Cummins and Midleton FC 

When Graham Cummins was appointed as manager of Midleton in the Munster Senior League, the coach was immediately put under pressure as the club looked to take the next step after winning back to back Premier Division titles.

The Cork City club legend had only experienced coaching at that level once, with his boyhood club Tramore, and it finished with a heartbreaking defeat to Everton in the Promotion-Relegation Play-off.

The Magpies are a different outfit and Cummins is already proving his name with success in the Keane Cup.

Midleton had to do it the hard way as their route to the final involved ties with reigning FAI Intermediate Cup champions College Corinthians, a Carrigaline United side fighting for the Premier Division title, and a resurgent Mayfield United in the decider.

This was an important marker for Cummins, and he hopes this leaves a lasting taste for silverware at Knockgriffin Park.

“After winning the first trophy there was a small bit of relief because of how the game went,” he said.

“We looked comfortable at 3-0 and then it was 3-2. I felt we hung in and dug deep in the end. 

"I also felt relief in terms of keeping the success of the club going. Obviously when Kev [Kevin Murray] left that was big in terms of the club because he had done so well. 

"You do feel a feel a bit of pressure and the Keane Cup is a great cup to win. It’s not going to relieve all the pressure at all because I will keep putting myself under pressure and the players will do that themselves.

“To get the first trophy is obviously brilliant. 

"It is my first year and I already have a first trophy as manager. It is a great feeling. 

"But, having the coaching staff that knows the league inside and out. We have a lot of coaches down there like Stephen Daly, Gearoid O’Leary, Jan [Haandrikman], Andy [O'Donoghue], and Alan Healy. 

"We have a lot of lads that know the league and the club. It was me and Steve that came in this year and those lads give so much help to me it is unbelievable.

“But the most important thing was getting the trophy in the bag. 

"We have young lads on the team and they need to taste that success and you get hungry for success. 

"Yeah, it was a bit of a relief and I was delighted with it.” 

This marked the first phase of the project by Cummins, who is looking at the game through a whole new lens since moving to Midleton.

“It’s a bit different managing in the Premier Division to Munster Senior League 2,” he said.

“There’s a difference in standards. 

"The big thing was that when I was with Tramore I was player manager so I wasn’t really on the sidelines. I was not getting as worked up. 

"I wasn’t trying to do stuff on the pitch. I was trying to organise things, come Saturday now it is totally different. 

"You are watching games a lot more. You are trying to see what can I change whereas with Tramore I concentrated on my own playing and then you’re asking the lads on the line what they are seeing.

“But every team is very strong in the Munster Senior League this year so every game is difficult. 

"Whereas at Tramore there were games that we knew were very winnable. We didn’t win a trophy or get promoted but the senior Premier Division is a step up. 

"There’s a lot of ex-League of Ireland players. There’s some very good sides in there you cans see that with the early results.” 

Midleton have prepared for this by building a balanced squad that includes local faces and League of Ireland graduates. 

This spine was recently strengthened by the additions of former Cobh Ramblers players Dale Holland and Tiernan O’Brien, who have just been called up to the Republic of Ireland Amateur Squad.

The Magpies will need everyone firing if they are to keep things motoring along, as they hunt down a third consecutive top flight title.

“With no FAI Intermediate Cup teams are going to focus more on the league,” he said.

“You could easily get distracted by an intermediate cup run and travelling up and down the country. 

"I know there will be a few rounds before the season ends but you can only get to the quarter final stage. 

"That is an aim of ours, to be involved at the start of next season.”