Graham’s Coming!

Shamrock Rovers F.C. is delighted to announce the signing of striker Graham Cummins for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Speaking to shamrockrovers.ie Graham said:

“I’m really excited. When I learned that Shamrock Rovers were interested I was really happy about it. After playing Shamrock Rovers a couple of times this season I was really impressed with the way they move the ball and how good they’ve been in the league as well. They’re right up there. That is the main reason I’ve come here, to try and win a league because it’s something that I need to do and something that I feel the team can definitely achieve.

It was a case of Shamrock Rovers wanting me and when the gaffer spoke to me I was really encouraged by what I heard. Maybe I’ve impressed against Rovers when I’ve played against them a couple of times and it’s come about that way. It’s been a quick move really, a quick pace from playing for Cork on Friday night and being here two days later.

I saw a video of the Dundalk game the other night and even just the first ten minutes I loved the style of play. The way the ball moves and the midfielders’ movement is exceptional. I’ve got to earn the right to play first but I’m sure they will create a lot of chances for me. But I’ve got to get into the team first and not worry about that. I think I’m a hard working player, I’ll always give everything for the team and I’m always trying to score.

I’d look back on my spells in England and Scotland with fondness. I think I’ve learned a lot and you grow up a lot more as a player. It’s not just about what you do on the ball, it’s about what you do off it. St Johnstone was the time I enjoyed the most and Alan Mannus probably put in a good word for me here as well. The older you get the more you look back and appreciate it. You want to be challenging for trophies and that’s why I came here.

I came home at the start of last year because I felt the time was right. I was always going to come back to the League of Ireland at some stage. You get these feelings in football that you need a new challenge and I’ve felt that the last few weeks as well, that I needed something new to challenge me for the rest of the season. When Shamrock Rovers were interested I thought that was perfect move for me.

I started the season very strongly last year and faded off a bit. This year hasn’t been the same, I’m a bit disappointed with my goals tally and I think it should be a lot more. I haven’t played as much as I would have liked but I did score two goals in my last two games. So my aim is to build on that and finish stronger this year. It’s about getting on a run, it’s always about confidence for strikers and the more you’re on the pitch the more chances you’re going to get.

When I come to Tallaght it feels like being over at a UK ground. There’s a great atmosphere, the crowd can be intimidating which is a good thing. I’m looking forward to Sligo on Friday if I’m involved but I can go to the St Pat’s game and watch it and get a feel for how the team plays and go from there. First and foremost I’ll get my head down and work hard for the rest of the week.”

Hoops’ head Coach Stephen Bradley said:

“Graham is very dangerous around the box and he scores goals. He brings a lot of qualities that will add to us as a team and a squad. We’ve liked him for a long time, when he was at St Johnstone we tried to get him and we tried to sign him last year as well so thankfully we’ve got him now. We create so many chances, Graham will definitely get chances to score goals here. He’s shown in the past that he’s a goalscorer.

We spoke a few weeks back and he was really keen to get it done. He wanted to come to us a couple of weeks ago and train with us but Cork had one or two injuries and he had to stay and play. It’s true that we usually go for younger players but Graham is proven, he’s experienced and he’s won things. I’m sure he’ll help us achieve things. The big thing for me was that he wants to come and win a league. He wants to come and show people what a good player he is and that he can score goals for this club and it’s refreshing when you hear players speak like that.”

Graham (31) began his senior career at Cobh Ramblers where he won promotion in 2007. He was Waterford’s top goalscorer with 17 goals during his spell there in 2009. Graham then moved to Leeside and became the first Cork City player to score more than 20 league goals in a season. It was his injury time winner at Tolka Park that clinched the First Division title in 2011. He moved to England to play for Preston, Rochdale (on loan) and Exeter before joining St Johnstone in 2015, where he scored 14 league goals in 51 appearances (46 starts & 15 subs), including winners over Celtic and Rangers. After a six year absence he returned home to Cork at the start of last season. Graham scored 14 league goals for City in that campaign and netted five this year.