Meath All-Ireland winner Bertie Cunningham passes away
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Bertie Cunningham, centre-back on Meath's 1967 All-Ireland winning team, has died, Meath GAA has announced.
Cunningham, aged 81, was centre-back on the team that defeated Cork in the All-Ireland final that year and his performance on the day was a big factor in his subsequent selection as 'footballer of the year.'
He was the first man from the county to win All-Ireland minor and senior medals, having won his minor medal 10 years earlier as a corner-back on the team that beat Armagh in the final.
He made his debut in 1960 against Longford, as did his brother Christy and went on to win four Leinster titles, in 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1970.
The Ballivor man was part of the Meath team that made a pioneering trip to Australia where they played games under compromise rules, a precursor for the international rules series that followed from 1984 onwards.
His death comes just weeks after the death of the 1967 Meath captain Peter Darby.
