Wexford stars to line out in charity match
WEXFORD GAA stars from around the county will be taking on a new breed of opposition on Tuesday, August 15, in St Conelth’s Park in Newbridge as they size up against Ireland’s top jockeys as part of Hurling for Cancer Research 2017.
For the sixth year in a row, legendary racehorse trainer from Olyegate Jim Bolger and Gold Cup winner and twotime National Hunt Champion jockey Davy Russell will bring household names in GAA and horse racing together to take part the celebrity hurling match in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. To date the event has raised €540,000 to fund the Irish Cancer Society’s innovative cancer research projects, which include a recent breakthrough in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.
Lining-out for the unique clash of the ash at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge are a slew of well-known hurlers including Wexford stars Lee Chin, Mags Darcy and Ursula Jacob alongside former legend Damien Fitzhenry who will line out for Jim Bolger’s stars and will be managed by Wexford great Liam Griffin, assisted by current Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald. They will take on Davy Russell’s best managed by Brian Cody and assisted by Derby winning jockey Kevin Manning.
Other familiar faces at the unique puck around will include including Henry Shefflin, DJ Carey, Charlie Carter, Richie Hogan, Tommy Walsh, James Cha Fitzpatrick and JJ Delaney as well as former soccer players Niall Quinn and Stephen Hunt, former Mayo footballer Conor Mortimer and GAA pundits Joe Brolly and Peter Canavan. Umpiring at the event will be former Olympic gold medallist Ronnie Delaney and former champion jockey Michael Kinane, GAA pundit Colm O’Rourke and racing pundit Ted Walsh. RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan and jockey Katie Walsh will be lineswomen on the evening while Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Seán Bán Breathnach will commentate on the proceedings.
Fans will have a chance to meet their sporting idols on the night and there will also be entertainment from Castlecomer Male Voice Choir and Kiltealy tenor Anthony Kearns will sing the national anthem.
Throw-in is at 6.30pm and tickets costing €10 for adults and €15 for families are currently on sale at www. cancer.ie/catalog/ tickets or by phone on CallSave 1850 60 60 60. Tickets will also be on sale at the gate, on the night of the match. All money raised will go to the Irish Cancer Society to fund researchers improving the lives of people across the country affected by cancer.
Jim Bolger said: ‘We are looking forward to another stellar performance from Ireland’s sporting stars who will be picking up a hurl in support of Ireland’s cancer patients on Tuesday, August 15 this year. Research is our most powerful enemy against cancer and together we are proud to play a part in helping patients fight back against this disease.’
Since 2010, the Irish Cancer Society has invested over €20 million in cancer research, including significant investments in national cancer research centres such as Breast Predict. Recently, Breast Predict researchers, who are funded by the Irish Cancer Society through events such as Hurling for Cancer Research, have identified a new target in an aggressive form of breast cancer called Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). This new target in the tumours will help doctors better predict a patient’s prognosis. The researchers also found an experimental drug which kills TNBC cells because they have this newly identified target.
While further research is needed on this novel treatment before it can be used in breast cancer patients, this work is a key step in opening up a wider range of new and less toxic treatment options for triple negative breast cancer patients. For more information log onto www.cancer.ie/catalog/ tickets or call 1850 60 60 60.