'I'll be like a child at Christmas' - Russell excited for Hurling For Cancer

Hurling For Cancer will make its return to St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge next Tuesday for the first time since 2019 and Davy Russell says he is like a "child at Christmas" waiting for the big clash.

The initiative, which Russell has been to the fore in promoting alongside Jim Bolger since its inception in 2010, was forced to move online in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, but will return with a 6pm throw-in where a plethora of stars will line up.

Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, Nina Carberry, Paul McGrath, Ted Walsh, Niall Quinn and broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan are among a host of famous faces lending a hand as sideline officials or umpires, with Kevin Manning, Colin Keane, Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy and Willie McCreery also due to attend.

Russell has called upon the services of Classic-winning jockey Shane Foley and top amateur Jamie Codd for his team, alongside hurling legends like Patrick Horgan, Seamus Harnedy, TJ Ryan and Brendan Cummins, and says he cannot wait for what he hopes will be a special evening.

Russell said: “It would only be a dream that a fella could walk on the pitch with the likes of Patrick Horgan, TJ Reid and the rest. I’ll be like a child at Christmas come Tuesday, I can’t wait.

“I'm really looking forward to the evening. It’s a marvellous cause. It’s a terrible disease that has touched many households throughout the country and it's unfortunate that we have to raise money for it but it’s a great way of doing it.

“It’s a credit to everyone playing that they’re giving up their time. There was no begging going on, it was just a phone call and they all put up their hand saying they’d be delighted to play or give a hand."

Rich Ricci gets a hand from Jim Bolger before going in as umpire at the 2019 Hurling For Cancer matchCredit: Patrick McCann

Over 6,000 people attended the event when it was last held in 2019, where the initiative hit the €1 million mark in terms of aggregate money raised for the Irish Cancer Society, and Russell is hoping for another great day.

He added: “We’re hoping for a big crowd and hopefully the weather will play ball with us. The local people are very good and the amount of people that travel are very good.”

Tickets cost just €10 for adults and €15 for families and can be purchased online here, while tickets will also be available at the gate.

On what to expect of the match, Russell concluded: “Loads of fireworks on the pitch. Hopefully we can muster up a good referee, not that there’ll be much whistling done.”

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