Team captains Mark Herbert and Noel Farrelly present Andy Kelly, Naas Care of the Aged, with a cheque for €43,000.
16 January 2004: A bit of parochial banter among friends has resulted in the handing over of a whopping cheque to charity.
The Ultimate Hurling Challenge held at Naas Rugby Club on New Year’s Day raised a huge €43,000 for the Naas Care of the Aged.
The cheque was presented by captains Mark Herbert (Rest of the World team) and Noel Farrelly (Chukka Chukkas) to Naas Care of the Aged chairperson Andy Kelly at a packed function in Kavanagh’s Pub on Thursday.
Andy was speechless at the amount raised and paid tribute to all who had helped make the event such a resounding success. In particular, he mentioned Pat Brophy, President of Naas RFC for his kind hospitality on the day. He recalled how the Care of the Aged was founded by Ann Farrington in 1974 who lived in New Row and from small beginnings is now open from 9am till ‘all hours at night’.
There was hearty applause when he promised the players ‘when you come to the age and want to go up there, we’ll look after you’. He was also presented with a copy of the match video for the Centre.
The video was earlier shown to a packed house in Kavangh’s who still roared on both teams despite the game having ended in a draw!!!!
The Tipp manager was Nicky English; Michael Duignan managed the Rest of the World.
It had meant diets and training for weeks in advance for some of the team players. For others, it was perhaps more a walk in the park. But all great fun, and for a good cause.
Sponsors included Masonbrook Construction and Bennet Construction.
Chukka Chukka Dave Smyth explained to KNN how it all came about.
“The whole thing originated after the Naas Rugby Club Business Lunch in September. Some regulars of Kavanagh’s Pub started discussing their exploits on the sporting field and Mark Herbert threw down the gauntlet and challenged the Tipperary lads to a game of football. We decided to take them on and play 10 mins football and 10 mins hurling, get two panels of 20 and put in €100 each. Because we were so close to it ourselves, we decided to have Naas Care of the Aged as our charity.
“Through continuous banter till the end of December, it all just mushroomed and resulted in €43,000.”
With the result a draw, surely that means a rematch?
Front - Pat Barrett (sponsor), Masonbrook Construction; Noel Farrelly; Mark Herbert; John Hennessy (sponsor), Bennett Construction; (back) Tony Hayden; Colm Molloy; Michael Roe; Joe Carey and Dave Smyth.
Members of Rossa tune up prior to playing at the event.
Michael Duignan, Bill Igoe and Bill O'Brien.
Noel Farrelly, with Ger and Norman Farraher, proprietors of Kavanaghs.
Malachy Vallely of Rossa.
Ger Farraher feeding the multitudes.
