IRISH footballer Shane Long will be on fire in a different way on Monday – as he lines out in hurling.
GAA, racing and sport stars have been announced for a special hurling match in aid of cancer research.
The Hurling for Cancer Research event takes place on Monday in Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow.
Horse trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Davy Russell are the two coaches in charge and have finally announced who will be lining out on the day.
The manager on the day for Bolger’s squad will be Wexford’s Liam Griffin.
That team, ‘Jim Bolger’s Stars’ will have Limerick’s Declan Hannon, Barry Nash and Kyle Hayes, as well as TJ Reid from Kilkenny and Dublin’s Con O’Callaghan.
Kilkenny’s Brian Cody will be in charge for Davy’s team, who he is calling ‘Davy Russell’s Best.’
Davy’s team will have Wexford’s Lee Chin, Clare’s David Fitzgerald and Ryan Taylor and Liam Hoare from Offaly.
But there will be two special additions on Jim’s subs bench – as former soccer heroes Stephen Hunt and Shane Long will be taking part.
Shane used to play hurling for his home county, Tipperary, and had played in a couple of Munster finals.
But he chose to play football instead and the rest is history.
Hurling was also Hunt’s first love and he played for the U15s and U16s in Waterford.
And stepping in as selectors, commentators and side-line officials are a number of sports stars, including boxer Bernard Dunne, jockeys Rachael Blackmore and Paul Townend and Dublin GAA great Michael Darragh MacAuley.
For the first time ever, the game will be broadcast on TG4 to help boost donations.
Hurling for Cancer Research founder, Jim said: “We have an unbelievable line-up of players not to mention our celebrity umpires, commentators, and sideline officials.
“It is a brilliant evening out for all the family and I think those in attendance are guaranteed a great evening.
“We are also very excited to have TG4 broadcast Hurling for Cancer Research for the first time this year, thanks to the generous support of Fogarty Fenwick and their crew, who like so many, are giving their services and time freely for such a worthy cause.”
Gates open at 5pm with pre-match entertainment and refreshments before throw-in at 7pm.
You can buy tickets online at hurlingforcancer.ie