Jim Bolger edges out Davy Russell as over €1 million raised in charity challenge

It has often been billed as the biggest clash of the GAA season, and Hurling For Cancer 2022 did not disappoint.

The highly anticipated fixture attracted a massive crowd to St Conleth's Park in Newbridge on Tuesday evening and those in attendance witnessed an epic contest for the initiative's tenth anniversary.

Jim Bolger's Stars went into half-time strongly in command with a 6-07 to 2-09 lead, but Davy Russell's best staged an epic comeback in the second half, falling agonisingly short by a single point as Bolger's side ran out 9-13 (40) to 8-15 (39) winners.

Russell lined out at corner back for his side, with his weighing room colleague Jamie Codd taking his place at wing back. Other racing folk on the field of play were Mikey and Johnny Fogarty, Richie Condon, Sean Flanagan, Mark Enright and Darragh O'Keeffe, who were all part of Russell's losing side.

Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, Nina Carberry, Ger Lyons, Willie McCreery, Ted Walsh, Kevin Manning and David Mullins were other racing personnel to lend a hand officiating the contest, with Paul McGrath, Niall Quinn and Sonia O'Sullivan also in attendance.

Davy Russell: one of the captains and organisers of the event, which has raised over €1mCredit: INPHO/Ben Brady

The benefit of the new split season in the GAA allowed many stars from the hurling world to line out, with hundreds of All-Ireland medals on show.

Bolger lined out in goal in the inaugural match, but now 80, he left those duties in the capable hands of five-time All-Star-winning goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, with Stephen Hunt also having a great game at corner forward for the winning side. GAA Stars like TJ Reid, Richie Hogan, Kyle Hayes, Eddie Brennan and Tommy Walsh all played a part for the victors.

The opposition wasn't weak either, and despite the best efforts of Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O'Mahony, Lee Chin, Patrick Horgan and comedy duo The 2 Johnnies, Russell's best just couldn't get over the line.

The initiative had raised more than €1 million before Tuesday's events, and donations can still be made here, with all proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society's innovative research projects.

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