Household names from GAA, horseracing and soccer were part of the huge crowd at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow for the annual charity event
Three years ago, when Jim Bolger, the renowned horse trainer and one of Wexford GAA’s most passionate supporters asked him to give former Galway manager Cyril Farrell a hand referring the annual fundraiser, Hurling for Cancer, it was an easy answer.
The 2025 exhibition match took place on Monday in Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow and attracted a huge crowd and television audience with the game between Jim Bolger’s Stars and Davy Russell’s Best broadcast live on TG4. Since 2011, it has raised over €1.5 million for the Irish Cancer Society.
Jim Bolger’s Stars wore Wexford’s purple and gold, and Dickie was delighted to join his fellow countymen Anthony Kearns who sung the national anthem and Boolavogue, Liam Griffin and Larry O’Gorman who led the team and the likes of Lee Chin and Rory O’Connor who started at midfield and wing forward respectively. Damien Fitzhenry and Brendan Cummins both rolled back the years with their man of the match performances.
18 August 2025; Wexford hurler Lee Chin, representing Jim Bolger’s Stars, during the Hurling for Cancer Research 2025 charity match between Jim Bolger’s Stars and Davy Russell’s Best at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“It’s gotten bigger and bigger every year,” says Dickie. “Since it moved to Carlow as well, it’s getting bigger crowds. It was a great night.
“There was a brilliant Wexford crew down there. Every family in Ireland have been touched by cancer.”
In twenty years of officiating intercounty matches, Dickie only gave one red card. He’s relieved to still have that record after Monday night. “There were no red cars. I think we only gave out one yellow card last night and Cyril did it. He forgot his own cards, so I gave him a loan of mine. It’s played in great spirit, and lads have smiles have their faces. The Tipperary lads came up on a Monday evening, only about a month after winning the All-Ireland.”
Dickie Murphy was obviously impartial in discharging his duties, but he had an eye on how the Wexford lads were going.
“As someone said after the match, Lee Chin brought energy every time he got the ball and got some great scores. I think the two goalkeepers, Damien and Brendan got man of the match afterwards.
“Then you had Stephen Hunt, we call him a Wexford man and he came on last night. And Paul McGrath has been a great supporter of it.”
Jim Bolger’s Stars defeated Davy Russell’s Best on a score line of 9-25 to 8-14. “Liam Griffin was delighted to get the win. He hates losing!”
18 August 2025; Former Kilkenny hurler Tommy Walsh, left, former Wexford hurler Larry O’Gorman, centre, and former Offaly hurler Brian Carroll, all representing Jim Bolger’s Stars, before the Hurling for Cancer Research 2025 charity match between Jim Bolger’s Stars and Davy Russell’s Best at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
After the match, hundreds of supporters stormed onto the pitch to meet their heroes and get pictures and autographs. He says that TJ Reid was on the pitch for a long time afterwards. So long that an official went over to him and asked him whether he would like to move away from the crowds and into the dressing room. Of course he didn’t and stayed out there for as long as it took.
When Wexford play at home, people often comment on the sheer number of people on Wexford Park’s pitch and half time and the number who rush onto the pitch after the game, regardless of the result. The pitch invasion will never come back to Croke Park, but there was something special about it, says Dickie.
“There is something unique about it. I refereed the All-Ireland final in 1995 when Clare won it for the first time in 81 years. There was an invasion, and it was unforgettable. I can see both sides of it, but when the people come onto the pitch it really does look great.”