When the call went out for players to get involved in the Amanda Stapleton Benefit Match, there were few - if any - hesitations.
On Saturday, November 3rd in Borrisoleigh, a Tipperary team featuring currents stars such Seamus Callanan, Jason Forde and Paudie Maher will join forces with legends like Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett to take on a Kilkenny team also packed with big games. Richie Hogan, Eoin Murphy, Henry Shefflin, Tommy Walsh and JJ Delaney are among those who will line out for the Cats.
The game is being held to raise money for the Amanda Stapleton Benefit Fund.
Amanda, who was recently diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, is the sister of Tipperary All-Ireland winner Paddy Stapleton.
Two of the very best to pick up a Hurley togging out one last time @TipperaryGAA @KilkennyCLG
The Legends Return November 3rd Borrisoleigh. Limited tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at any Centra Stores or on https://t.co/qJNcubt2nZhttps://t.co/CbUf9q74mw pic.twitter.com/bKvUYFGOhY— Amanda Stapleton Benefit Fund (@AmandaFund) October 17, 2018
"We're looking forward to playing but the bigger picture here is the Stapletons and what they're going through," Lar Corbett told Balls.
When Paddy sent out the message asking for lads to get involved, the answer was yes, and yes to every other request they had. Lads are after rowing in here and helping out as best they can.
How the Borrisoleigh people get behind each other, it's unbelievable - they organise things at a different level to everyone else and that has been proven through the years. There's a community here as strong as you'll ever see.
"It didn't take much for the Kilkenny lads to get involved," said Kilkenny goalkeeper, Eoin Murphy.
"Paul Murphy was trying to round up a couple of lads. He said himself that he texted 38 or 40 and there were only two who were more than a day getting back to him and they were confirming 100 per cent that they could do it."
Corbett is looking forward to renewing some battles with a few old foes.
"We'll just say that a few of the Kilkenny players, when they come, I hope that there's a few of them a little overweight, that one of them might pull a hamstring so we can actually say that they are human because for few years there, they looked inhuman to us when we were playing them.
"Hopefully, we'll see that they're out of shape a bit."
You can buy tickets for the game at Tickets.ie and you can donate money to the Amanda Stapleton Benefit Fund via Go Fund Me.
Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
