Record-Breaking Fundraiser
The Hurling for Cancer Research match has broken the €2 million barrier in funds raised after this year's edition at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow on Monday evening, as reported by Racing Post. Davy Russell's Best emerged victorious over Jim Bolger's Stars, with Russell's side scoring 18-11 to Bolger's 12-11 in front of a packed crowd.
Players from Cork, Clare, and Tipperary lined out for Russell's team, while Bolger's side boasted several Limerick All-Ireland winners and stars from Kilkenny, Galway, Wexford, Dublin, and Offaly. Racing personalities were present too, with Willie Mullins taking up umpire duties.
Russell, who assumed the role of player/manager late in the game, confirmed the fundraising milestone. "We don't know the final figure yet but we're after breaking the two million bar anyway, which is brilliant and it was the big aim," he said. Before Monday's renewal, €1.9 million had been raised for cancer research through the Irish Cancer Society since the event was first staged in 2012.
Russell thanked TG4 for broadcasting the game, noting, "TG4 are outstanding and for them to broadcast it really adds to it." Players stayed after the final whistle to sign autographs and pose for selfies with children, a sight Russell described as "brilliant."
Star-Studded Line-Up for 2026
In a separate announcement, the Irish Mirror confirmed that the match returns to Netwatch Cullen Park on Monday, August 24, 2026. The event, supported by Centre and held in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, will feature a host of hurling and camogie greats including TJ Reid, Patrick Horgan, Noel McGrath, Ashling Thompson, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh, Walter Walsh, Grace Walsh, Darragh O'Donovan, Brian Hayes, Lee Chin, Joe Canning, and Austin Gleeson.
The game will also include familiar faces from outside hurling: Dublin football star Con O'Callaghan, former Mayo footballer Conor Mortimer, and former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Hunt.
Fresh from her recent All-Ireland final victory, Ashling Thompson—a supporter of Hurling for Cancer Research since its early years—will become the first woman in a starting lineup for the match, a groundbreaking achievement noted by the Irish Mirror.
Voices for the Cause
Noel McGrath, a four-time All-Ireland winner who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2015, spoke about the importance of the funds in helping research deliver better treatments and survival outcomes. Patrick Horgan commented on the unique atmosphere of the event. Nikki Gallagher, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, added a statement about the event and research funding, highlighting the funded Lung Health Check Pilot in partnership with Beaumont Hospital and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Event Details
Tickets cost €10 for adults and €5 for children, available from certain centres or online. The match throws in at 7:30 pm next Monday.
The charity match, brainchild of horse racing legends Jim Bolger and Davy Russell, has raised significant sums since 2012, and with the €2 million barrier broken, its impact on cancer research continues to grow.