Kilkenny legends star in Hurling for Cancer charity game as Cody returns to the sideline

Hurling and camogie icons of past and present took part in the 14th Hurling for Cancer match in Carlow on Monday evening.

Kilkenny greats TJ Reid and Walter Walsh played key roles, each bagging a hat-trick of goals for Jim Bolger’s Stars who ran out 14-10 to 8-14 winners over Davy Russell’s Best in an action-packed encounter at Netwatch Cullen Park.

The level of players on display couldn’t have been higher with the starting lineups alone containing 47 All-Ireland medals and 46 All-Stars.

Most of the Kilkenny contingent lined out for Jim Bolger’s Stars as Mikey Butler, Paddy Deegan, Huw Lawlor, Eoin Cody and Reid played from the start in the side managed by Liam Griffin and John Kiely with the likes of Dan Morrissey, Lee Chin and Dublin footballer Con O’Callaghan strengthening the side even further.

Brian Cody was joined by Liam Cahill on the opposing touchline as he plotted to get the win over his former players and had plenty of firepower of his own with Noel McGrath, Peter Duggan and Patrick Horgan at his disposal to name but a few.

Many of the players had played club matches the day before so the tackling was understandably not too ferocious as a cagey opening 10 minutes saw the sides tied at 0-3 apiece. 

The floodgates opened soon after as Bolger’s Stars took control with the forward line mostly concerned with trying to shoot for goal and beat Brendan Cummins from as far out the field as possible.

The five-time All-Star winning keeper was having none of it however, as the 50-year old pulled off a string of acrobatic saves to deny Reid from distance.

But even Cummins couldn’t stem the tide forever and the goals soon started to fly in, Eoin Cody grabbed one early on followed by two for Reid.

Walter Walsh was introduced around the 20 minute mark and netted one of the standout scores of the match, striking home on the volley after being cleverly set-up by Joe Canning as Bolger’s Stars went in 8-7 to 4-7 to the good at the interval.

Even a half-time team talk from Brian Cody couldn’t turn around his Russell’s Best side’s fortunes as their opponents continued to dominate after the restart.

The concept of point scoring fell even further by the wayside as the benches emptied and goals kept flying in.

Walter Walsh notched his second and substitute Eddie Brennan rolled back the years with a fine finish of his own.

Tommy Walsh was also introduced and showed off some trademark composure under the high ball while camogie heroes Grace Walsh and Laura Murphy impacted the game in the latter stages.

TikToker Sean Carroll’s performance was one of the surprise highlights of the evening as he fired over three fine points from play to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Russell’s Stars.

Reid and Walter Walsh were both reintroduced to complete their hat-tricks late on as the game ended 14-10 to 8-14, but neither side was too concerned about the result as a great night of fundraising for an important cause came to a close.

Celebrities like Rachael Blackmore and Bernard Dunne took on umpire and maor usice duties with Marty Morrissey providing commentary while Irish soccer legend Paul McGrath watched from the stands.

Reid was presented with the trophy and the thousands of children in attendance streamed on to the pitch to get signatures and photographs from their heroes.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Irish Cancer Society. Hurling for Cancer has raised over €1.6 million since the first edition in 2011 and it’s hoped that the €2 million mark will be reached this year.