Michael Duignan: "That’s What Hurling For Cancer Represents, It Will Help People"

On Monday August 18th, a big crowd will take to Netwatch Cullen Park to attend Hurling for Cancer proudly supported by Centra. It will be a celebration of Irish resilience, sporting heritage, and of course hurling. What's more, it is all done for a wonderful cause, with the money raised on the day going to the Irish Cancer Society.

Some of the biggest names in Irish sport will be taking part, both from the world of GAA and other codes. The fixture has been taking place each year since 2011, seemingly growing in popularity with each edition.

One person who has been there from the very start is Michael Duignan. A legendary player for Offaly and now one of the most popular GAA figures in the country through his work on The Sunday Game, he knows better than most how cancer can touch our lives in unexpected ways.

His wife Edel was just 41-years old when she passed away from the disease back in 2009. Speaking to Balls, he recalled how hurling played such a massive part in getting him and his young family through that difficult period of their lives.

Edel will be 16 years dead on the 15th of September. It will always be linked with hurling because she actually went into hospital on the morning of the All-Ireland final in 2009 for the last time, she didn’t come out after that.

With her anniversary coming up around this time, it obviously was a huge motivation. I’ve lost a couple of good friends and family members as well, as everybody has.

I would be telling you lies if I said it wasn’t a factor. We all do our things for charities and things like that, but hurling means so much to us.

Hurling probably kept us going to be honest with you after Edel died. Myself and the two lads in the house, I sort of decided that my roots would have to be at home with the two lads and the local club.

Michael would line out as a player in the first couple of Hurling for Cancer fixtures, admitting that he was a bit past his peak at that stage. He has since moved into the commentary booth and been involved with every edition since then.

In something of a full circle moment, his son and Offaly star Brian Guinan would play in the game in 2024. He played alongside fellow Offaly men and U20 All-Ireland winners Adam Screeney, Liam Hoare, and Dan Burke.

Hoare's involvement was particularly inspiring, with the Carrig & Riverstown man going through his own battle with cancer before recovering and helping his county to All-Ireland glory.

The lads were down there last year and it was brilliant. Liam Hoare himself had a battle with cancer over the last couple of years and missed the All-Ireland final the previous year when the U20s were beaten but he very much stayed part of the panel.

He had about 12 months of treatment and got over it fantastically well, made his way back onto the team last year to win the All-Ireland. It was very emotional last year for Liam to go down and play in the match, he’s such a young man and a great guy.

The four lads went and they went back into Kilkenny after the match with the Limerick, Kilkenny, Wexford lads and had a night out. That was brilliant for them as well, because they wouldn’t necessarily know the lads all that well.

They didn’t have to be asked twice. They’re young men, they’re busy, training with their clubs, playing matches. But they’re delighted to be there.

Both current and former inter-county players from around the country will make their way to Carlow for this year's game, which will also be the first edition that features a new partnership with Centra.

The partnership will build on Centra’s long-standing support for the Irish Cancer Society and 16-year sponsorship of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship.

It is hoped that the game will up to €2million for charity. Tickets are available to buy online and in Centra stores.

While all of this is taking place for a wonderful cause, you can be sure that those involved will be keen to get one up on the opposition.

Michael Duignan always keeps a close eye on the Kilkenny lads, who seem to find it difficult to treat this fixture as anything other than a fiercely competitive clash. He particularly enjoyed a previous tangle between former teammates Tommy Walsh and Jackie Tyrrell. As he puts it:

Those Kilkenny lads, there's no curing them. They only know one way to play!

As for Duignan himself, this will always be an occasion that is close to his heart.

Like so many people around the country, his life has been directly affected by cancer. To get the chance to do his bit to help a wonderful cause, all while mixing it with one of the great loves of his life in hurling, is not something he takes for granted.

My book that time was 'Life, Death, and Hurling’, which kind of sums it up. Our life is based around hurling. Sometimes you say there is more important things, but I suppose there isn’t in ways.

It’s the GAA and sporting family. You can see that anytime there is difficulty, somebody gets sick, or there is good causes. We all row in and do what we can. That’s what Hurling for Cancer really represents, it’s everybody doing what they can to help people and help cancer research.

There’s lots of positives stories as well, I think that’s an important message as well. Lots of people get cancer and get better. Unfortunately some people won’t, but that’s what this is all about. It’s about cancer research and improving the outcomes for people that get cancer. You don’t have to be afraid of the word.

Joachim Kelly, my great teammate and a great hurler, he has spent the last 12 months battling leukaemia. He has come out the other side and is in great form. It’s tough to take when you get the news, it’s an awful shock to the system for the people that get it and their families.

But there is hope out there as well. That’s what Hurling for Cancer represents. We will raise money, it will go into cancer research, and it will help people.

A powerful message, one that will resonate with a lot of people around the country.

You can buy tickets to the match or donate to Hurling for Cancer here.