SPORTING PASSIONS BRENDAN CUMMINS:Brendan Cummins tells Gavin Cummiskeyabout his superstitious nature and the two other sporting passions in his life - Manchester United and playing out the field

I’M WEARING a Manchester United jersey under my top since 1992. When you are in the goals it can be a fair lonely enough spot but if you can have your routine and have all the things that make you comfortable then you get through it. Certainly, this jersey is my comfort blanket.

It is the 1991-1992 season jersey, when they won the League Cup but lost the title to an Eric Cantona-inspired Leeds United. It is the home jersey; the one with the strings in it although they are long gone by now. It was also the season Alex Ferguson signed Peter Schmeichel.

There once was a time when I wore a club jersey inside as well. Over time the jerseys have got tighter so I can’t wear that as well anymore. But any club game, any match actually, even out here in Buenos Aires on the All Star tour and despite this heat I always have the Manchester United jersey underneath.

There is no name or number on the back of it. I’m a big United supporter but I think I was superstitious in my younger days. I used to wear the tracksuit bottoms but I shed them. I always kept the United jersey.

In games whenever I get nervous I get cold so it has some practical use. Obviously it’s not happening today! This jersey means everything to me, to be honest. Nobody has ever tried to swipe it – they know better than to even contemplate that.

I get over to Old Trafford a couple of times a year, as often as I can, but it is difficult when you’re training so much with Tipperary.

I’m a strong enough United supporter but Tipperary would be number one, obviously.

It’s my passion away from the hurling. It’s a fantastic place to go but when I was younger Schmeichel was the main man; he was God in our house, to be honest.

That’s the biggest thing that led me to United watching that guy at his peak. Around 1998/99 Schmeichel was at his best and it was also the same time I was trying to get to my peak with Tipperary hurling.

You always have to have role models within the game but from the outside as well and he certainly fitted the bill. It helps to see how professional people conduct themselves and whenever I’m at Old Trafford I pay particular attention to watching the goalies warming up. The routine is something I can learn little bits from.

I’ve even got down to the training camp where I had a real look over the wall at a professional set-up. I’ve never met Schmeichel or even Shay Given who I also admire him in a big way but have come across David Beckham and John O’Shea a few times.

For the bank, AIB, I play up the field, at centre forward mainly, but only two or three times a year. My club had me out the field at one stage but it doesn’t really suit. Goalkeeping is an art where you have to stay in the goals to keep yourself at the peak. It is a specialist pursuit so you have to keep tipping away at your craft.

Having played out the field will help when the helmet rule comes in next month. It will be an issue for me but I have used a specially designed one from Micro, who provided an extra light design so I hope it won’t prove too much of a discomfort. In the old days they were heavy and very difficult to wear. They would move on your head.

Apparently, there is a blind spot when the ball falls from high down to your knees. The new rule for the square ball will make it even more challenging. Only time will tell and anyway it is in now so we must adapt. It is just another area we must endeavour to try and perfect.

Brendan Cummins was speaking after the All Star hurling exhibition in Hurlingham, Buenos Aires.