THE pre-match whispers were that Jim Bolger’s team looked significantly stronger on paper this year and, while they just about edged the verdict, it was a close contest in this year’s Hurling for Cancer match on Tuesday in Newbridge.

Referees Cyril Farrell and Jimmy Barry-Murphy indicated beforehand they intended to let the game flow and, true to their word, the whistle was hardly blown at all during the 60 minutes. And when it was blown, it was often ignored by the players.

Former Irish soccer international Stephen Hunt got Bolger’s Stars off to a flyer with a cracking goal which gave former Tipp goalkeeper Brendan Cummins no chance.

For Davy’s Best, Lee Chin of Wexford was a very menacing presence and he blasted home a couple of goals past his own countyman Damian Fitzhenry.

Going for goal seemed to be everyone’s priority except for Jamie Codd who was an absolute star on the night for Davy’s team. The top amateur rider put over a series of beautiful points and it was later revealed that Jamie was the fastest player on the pitch, covering 8.5 metres in a single second.

Comedian Johnny Smacks, one half of The 2 Johnnies, was another surprise package for Russell’s red shirts, helped by Cork camogie star Ashling Thompson who had a huge work-rate in midfield.

Unfortunately Davy’s side struggled in defence and, in the closing minutes of the first half, they were heavily punished by two goals from Kildare hurler Jack Sheridan and another from amateur rider James Dowling, one of the key organisers of the event.

The half-time score was 6-7 (25 points) for Jim Bolger’s Stars to 2-10 (16 points) for Davy Russell’s Best.

Celebrity bainisteoir Brian Cody must have given Davy’s side the hairdryer treatment at half-time because within seconds of the restart they had reduced the deficit to two points, thanks to goals from Clare duo Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor, and that man Jamie Codd again.

Cha Dwyer (Laois) also got a few lovely scores for the reds but even though their goalkeeper Brendan Cummins pulled off some huge saves (and massive puckouts) eventually Jim Bolger’s yellowbellies got back on top.

In a desperate bid to salvage a draw, Davy Russell sent on at least 26 players for the final few minutes but Kildare’s Eoin O’Hehir (son of racing writer and commentator Peter) wrapped it up for Jim Bolger’s team with a late goal past his Lilywhite colleague Paddy McKenna.

With the final puck of the game, James Dowling scored another goal for the reds to leave the final score 9-13 (40 points) for Jim Bolger, 8-15 (39) for Davy Russell. At least that’s what the scoreboard said but everyone seemed happy enough to call it a draw.

As soon as the final whistle sounded the pitch was invaded by adults and children demanding photographs with their heroes. All told, it was a fantastic evening’s entertainment.

Jim Bolger’s Stars: Liam Griffin (Bainisteoir), Liam Cahill, Jim Bolger and Dave Bernie (selectors), Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford), Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), Dan Morrissey (Limerick), Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny), Kyle Hayes (Limerick), Richie Reid (Kilkenny), Chris Crummey (Dublin), Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny), Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick), Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny), T.J. Reid (Kilkenny), Tom Morrissey (Limerick), Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), Stephen Hunt (Wexford), Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny), Aidan ‘Taggy’ Fogarty (Kilkenny), Ollie Canning (Galway), John Mulhall (Kilkenny), Brian Carroll (Offaly), Drew Costello (Kildare), Jack Sheridan (Kildare), Eoin Cody (Kilkenny), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny), Eoin O’Hehir (Kildare), Walter Walsh (Kilkenny), Jamie Morrissey (Kilkenny), Adam Morrissey (Kilkenny), Cathal Keegan (Kilkenny), Grace Mulhall (Kilkenny), Anna Purcell (Kilkenny), Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny), James Dowling (Kilkenny), Martin Storey (Wexford), Larry O’Gorman (Wexford), Shane O’Neill (Kilkenny), Cathal Purcell (Kilkenny), Noah Scully (Kilkenny), Cormac Quirke (Kilkenny).

Davy Russell’s Best: Brian Cody (Bainisteoir), Ursula Jacob, Shane Foley (selectors), Brendan Cummins (Tipperary), Davy Russell (Cork), Matthew O’Hanlon (Wexford), T.J. Ryan (Limerick), Jamie Codd (Wexford), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork), Tim O’Mahony (Cork), Kevin Foley (Wexford), Ashling Thompson (Cork), Liam Óg McGovern (Wexford), Lee Chin (Wexford), Peter Duggan (Clare), Johnny Smacks (Tipperary), Patrick Horgan (Cork), Willie Dunphy (Laois), Cha Dwyer (Laois), J.J. Delaney (Kilkenny), Gearoid Brouder (Kerry), Mikey Fogarty (Wexford), Simon Leacy (Kildare), Frank Bass (Kildare), Gavin Dowling (Kildare), Connor King (Cork), Johnny Fogarty (Wexford), Dessie Hutchinson (Waterford), Richie Condon (Cork), David Doyle (Tipperary), Sarah O’Connor (Wexford), Ciara O’Connor (Wexford), Johnny B (Tipperary), Sean Flanagan (Wexford), John Cullen (Wexford), Mark Enright (Limerick), Paddy McKenna (Kildare), Brian Cadigan (Kilkenny), Ian McCarthy (Galway), Darragh O’Keeffe (Cork), Peter Downey (Kilkenny), Cian Quirke (Tipperary), Neil Ryan (Tipperary).