"It Still Is Very Tough" - Memory Of Mam Driving Paudie Clifford In Hurling For Cancer

Hurling for Cancer is a cause very dear to the heart of Paudie Clifford.

The Kerry great will be one of a few dozen sporting legends from GAA spheres and beyond who will descend on Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow next Monday, August 16th for Hurling for Cancer, proudly supported by Centra.

A staple of the GAA calendar, the charity event first took place in 2011 under the organisation of horse racing legends Davy Russell and Jim Bolger, raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society. In its 15th year, the event is approaching €2 million raised.

An icon of the other code of Gaelic Games, Kerry icon Paudie Clifford nonetheless togged out and put his hurling skills to the test in the 2023 edition.

"It was a massive challenge for me, to be honest!" Clifford says through laughter.

I wouldn't have played that much hurling and I had played no hurling in the last few years.

Luckily, the game was played at a slower pace. A lot of lads have club games at the weekend and might have had a club game the day before.

It's not played at an inter-county hurling pace, otherwise I'd have no chance whatsoever!

I found it tough, to be honest. I think I might have gotten two or three points but I was unmarked and all I had to do was concentrate on striking it.

Clifford is again involved this year, just weeks after an inspired performance dictating the Kerry attack in their All-Ireland final victory over Donegal.

This year, though, he will not be playing as he manages a hamstring injury. Instead, he will be on the sidelines, alongside team co-managers Brian Cody, Liam Cahill, John Kiely, and Liam Griffin.

The star-studded nature of the event has drawn massive crowds down through the years all in the name of raising funds for a vital charity.

Cancer is a disease that will impact every family in some way, and raising funds for research into the disease has brought together Ireland's sporting communities for 15 years now.

It is a cause dear to Paudie Clifford's heart.

Clifford's mother, Ellen, passed away in 2023 after battling the disease. Paudie was 25 at the time, with brother David 23. It is a loss the family are still grappling with to this day.

"It's very important to us," Paudie says of taking part in Hurling for Cancer.

"Obviously, it was very tough for all of us. It still is very tough.

"To see Davy Russell and Jim and Úna Bolger all doing so much work for the cause to raise awareness and maybe help another family in the future, or loads of families in the future is massive.

"Obviously, it's a hard thing to go through, losing your mam when you admire her so much.

"It's great to see so many people putting their shoulder to the wheel and doing so much to help this cause and to help families around Ireland. It's massive."

Clifford urges GAA fans to make their way to Carlow on Monday evening for what is sure to be a hugely entertaining evening of hurling for a vitally important cause.

The atmosphere of the games is summed up by Clifford's memory of merely trying to strike the ball in 2023, an experience many of the non-hurlers in the cohort of players will be able to empathise with.

"It's unbelievable really," Clifford says.

I suppose it just shows the power of the GAA community and the sporting community in Ireland that everybody comes together and has a bit of fun.

Everyone, at the end of the day, does it for such an important reason. It's a pleasure to be a part of it but it's just so great to see so many top sportspeople in Ireland giving up their time to help out this cause.

Of course, it's not just hurlers who will be involved. Faces from the world of horse racing and soccer will also play a central role, with Niall Quinn, Rachel Blackmore, and Stephen Hunt among the figures involved on the day.

Paudie Clifford warns us, though, not to expect too much game-changing brilliance from the non-hurlers on the pitch.

"You literally have every top hurler, there's nearly 40 in each panel," Clifford says.

"25 or 30 of them are the top hurlers in the game at the moment. To think footballers and soccer players and the jockeys are going to be able to compete with them is unrealistic!

"It's actually great to see the hurlers first-hand. Their touch, the way they can strike the ball, things like that. It's a great experience to be that close to them."

Clifford recalls playing alongside TJ Reid in 2023, and the Kilkenny hurler will be involved again this year.

Reid will be joined by fellow hurling greats Patrick Horgan, Lee Chin, Jackie Tyrrell, Ollie Canning, Brendan Cummins and more on the pitch on Monday. From other codes come the likes of Con O'Callaghan (a mighty fine hurler at club level), Grace Walsh, Ashling Thompson and more.

Tipperary's All-Ireland winning team are well represented, with Noel McGrath, Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Alan Tynan, and Brendan Maher all involved. Darragh McCarthy is a player Clifford is particularly excited to see in action, off the back of his All-Ireland final heroics.

The family-friendly nature of the event is one of the many facets that have seen it become an integral part of the GAA calendar, with kids in attendance getting the opportunity to meet their heroes after the game.

The GAA community referenced by Clifford is rarely to the fore more than it will be in Carlow on Monday night, and is part of what makes the evening so special.

"I'd urge anyone that's interested in hurling or supporting this cause, or just interested in sport in general, to come down," Clifford says.

It's a great evening for everyone. You get to see great hurling, meet the hurlers and everyone else after on the pitch, and there's just a great family atmosphere, great entertainment put on.

It's a great evening all round, I'd encourage everyone to come out and support.

You can buy tickets to the match or donate to Hurling for Cancer here.