the following year before being dropped to the substitutes' bench in his final year as a minor in 1983. In 1985 Cashman joined the Cork under-21 team, however, his two-year tenure in this grade ended without success. Cashman made his senior debut for Cork on 10 November 1985 in a 2–11 to 1–10 Oireachtas final defeat of Galway. He was a regular throughout the subsequent league campaign and was included in Cork's championship team in 1986. Cork made it five-in-a-row in Munster that year as they defeated Clare by 2–18 to 3–12 to take the provincial title. It was Cashman's first Munster medal. This victory paved the way for an All-Ireland final meeting with Galway on 7 September 1986. The men from the west were the red-hot favourites against a Cork team in decline, however, on the day a different story unfolded. Four Cork goals, one from John Fenton, two from Tomás Mulcahy and one from Kevin Hennessy, stymied the Galway attack and helped the Rebels to a 4–13 to 2–15 victory. It was Cashman's first All-Ireland medal. In 1990 Cork bounced back after a period in decline. He won his second Munster medal that year following a 4–16 to 2–14 defeat of Tipperary. The subsequent All-Ireland final on 2 September 1990 pitted Cork against Galway for the second time in four years. Galway were once again the red-hot favourites and justified this tag by going seven points ahead in the opening thirty-five minutes thanks to a masterful display by Cashman's opposite number Joe Cooney. Cork fought back with an equally expert display by captain Tomás Mulcahy. The game was effectively decided on an incident which occurred midway through the second half when Cork goalkeeper Ger Cunningham blocked a point-blank shot from Martin Naughton with his nose. The umpires gave no 65-metre free, even though he clearly deflected it out wide. Cork went on to win a high-scoring and open game of hurling by 5–15 to 2–21. As well as winning a second All-Ireland medal Cashman was later presented with a first All-Star. Cork surrendered their All-Ireland crown to Tipperary in 1991, however, in spite of an early championship exit Cashman finished the year with a second All-Star. In 1992 Cashman claimed a third Munster medal following a 1–22 to 3–11 of Limerick. On 6 September 1992 Cork faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. At half-time Cork were two points