Offaly trio to take part in hurling for cancer charity match
Three Offaly hurlers are part of the star-studded line-up who will participate in this year's 'Hurling for Cancer Research' charity match.
Brian Duignan, Liam Hoare and Ben Conneely are the three Offaly players involved, with Duignan named to start on Jim Bolger’s team, while Hoare and Conneely are listed as subs (see panels below).
The match will take place at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow next Monday, August 24 at 7.30pm.
TJ Reid, Patrick Horgan, Noel McGrath, Ashling Thompson, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh, Walter Walsh, Darragh O’Donovan, Brian Hayes, Grace Walsh, Lee Chin, Joe Canning and Austin Gleeson are among the hurling and camogie stars set to take part.
The game will also feature some familiar faces from outside hurling, with former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Hunt, Dublin football star Con O’Callaghan and former Mayo footballer Conor Mortimer set to be involved.
Supported by Centra and held in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, the annual sporting spectacle will once again bring together current stars, All-Ireland winners and legends of the game for a night of entertainment in support of groundbreaking cancer research.
Fresh from her recent All-Ireland final victory, Cork camogie great Ashling Thompson, who has supported the event since its earliest years, will once again take part and is the first woman to be in the starting lineup for a Hurling for Cancer Research match.
The charity match is the brainchild of horse racing legends Jim Bolger and Davy Russell and, since its foundation in 2012, has raised an extraordinary €1.9 million, ringfenced for cancer research through the Irish Cancer Society.
Hurling for Cancer Research has become one of the most unique fixtures in the Irish sporting calendar, with county rivalries put aside for an evening that regularly brings together many of the country’s best-known sporting personalities.
Four-time All-Ireland winner Noel McGrath, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2015, has spoken about the importance of the funds raised by the event in helping research deliver better treatments and survival outcomes.
“Treatments and survival rates are getting better all the time. That’s why an event like Hurling for Cancer Research, which has raised so much money already for the Irish Cancer Society, is so important,” McGrath said.
“These funds help research and treatment continue to improve and that’s what saves more lives.
"The novelty of getting to play with players from different counties is one attraction, but I think the fact that it’s for cancer research is the other big one. Every player probably knows someone who has been affected by cancer in one way or another,” Noel added.
Nikki Gallagher, CEO, Irish Cancer Society said, “It’s incredible to see the array of sporting talent from across the GAA, horse racing and other spheres giving their time and commitment to Hurling for Cancer Research. Major sporting stars and celebrities support the event because they know how vital it is to fund lifesaving cancer research."
Cork legend Patrick Horgan said the unique atmosphere is what continues to bring Ireland’s biggest sporting names back year after year.
“I’d never miss this game,” Horgan said. “You genuinely see and meet Irish sports stars there that you would never come across outside of this game. While we start 15 versus 15, it could end up 30 against 30 by the final whistle.
"It’s always such great fun, especially for families. Everyone stays on the pitch after to sign autographs for the kids. Sometimes sport is very serious when it probably shouldn't be, but this is a night when it’s great fun for something very serious."
The main Hurling for Cancer Research match throws in at 7.30pm next Monday, with mini games at 5.30pm. Tickets cost €10 for adults and €5 for children and are available from Centra stores nationwide, on https://www.idonate.ie/p/event/HurlingForCancerresearch or at the gate on the night. All proceeds will support the Irish Cancer Society’s vital cancer research.
Jim Bolger’s Stars:
1. Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford)
2. Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
3. Dan Morrissey (Limerick)
4. Cian Daniels (Galway)
5. Chris Crummey (Dublin)
6. Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
7. Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)
8. Cian Kenny (Kilkenny)
9. Brian Hayes (Dublin)
10. Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
11. Lee Chin (Wexford)
12. Walter Walsh (Kilkenny)
13. Brian Duignan (Offaly)
14. Shane O’Brien (Limerick)
15. Con O’Callaghan (Dublin).
Subs: Liam Hoare (Offaly), Joe Canning (Galway), Ollie Canning (Galway), Jason Flynn (Galway), Ronan Murphy (Galway), Jack O’Connor (Wexford), Conor Donoghue (Dublin), Fergal Whitely(Dublin), Conal Ó Riain (Dublin), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny), Killian Doyle (Kilkenny), Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Paddy Deegan (Kilkenny), Mikey Butler (Kilkenny), Grace Walsh (Kilkenny), Katie Nolan (Kilkenny), Miriam Bambrick (Kilkenny), Sarah Barcoe (Kilkenny), Brian Cadigan (Kilkenny), Stephen Hunt (Waterford), Colin Coughlan (Limerick), Ben Conneely (Offaly), Sean Carroll (Kilkenny), Austin Gleeson (Waterford).
Davy Russell’s Best:
1. Brendan Cummins (Tipperary)
2. Dion Wall (Carlow)
3. Seán O'Donoghue (Cork)
4. Adam Hogan (Clare)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Clare)
6. Eoin Downey (Cork)
7. David Fitzgerald (Clare)
8. Andrew Ormond (Tipperary)
9. Ashling Thompson (Cork)
10. Barry Walsh (Cork)
11. Declan Dalton (Cork)
12. James Doyle (Carlow)
13. Shane Kingston (Cork)
14. Brian Hayes (Cork)
15. Patrick Horgan (Cork).
Subs: Rhys Shelly (Tipperary), Noel McGrath (Tipperary), Neill Ryan (Tipperary), Adrian McCarthy (Clare), Conor Bohan (Clare), Éibhear Quilligan (Clare), Niall O’Farrell (Clare), Mark Rodgers (Clare), Paul Rodgers (Clare), Niall O'Leary (Cork), Jamie Barron (Cork), Avril Cashman (Cork), Eoin Reilly (Laois), Mikey Fogarty (Wexford), Johnny Fogarty (Wexford), Rian Boran (Kildare), Muiris Curtin (Kildare), Cian Boran (Kildare), Gavin Dowling (Kildare), Chris Nolan (Carlow), Aoife Minogue (Meath), Megan Tynan (Meath), Conor Mortimer (Mayo), Michael Deady (Wexford), Paddy Brennan (Galway/London).