The Waterford and Cork hurlers will begin their year with a charity game at Fraher Field in Dungarvan at 5pm on Saturday in aid of former Déise player Brian Greene.
Greene was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022 and is continuing treatment, with funds raised from the game going towards the 2002 Munster SHC winner and Waterford Hospice.
The encounter will mark Peter Queally’s first at the helm with his native Waterford while Pat Ryan begins his third year as Cork manager.
Ryan has included seven players from the team that started last July’s All-Ireland senior hurling final defeat to Clare – with Patrick Collins, Robert Downey, Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Declan Dalton, Brian Hayes and Alan Connolly all set to line out from the off on Saturday.
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Ger Millerick, Ethan Twomey and Luke Meade – all of whom featured off the bench against Clare at Croke Park last summer – have also been named to start against Waterford.
There are also four All-Ireland final starters among the Cork subs – Seán O’Donoghue, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett and Tim O’Mahony.
Downey has been named as the new Cork captain for 2025, taking over the role from O’Donoghue. Barrett has taken on the vice-captaincy for the year ahead.
Collins will start between the posts for the Rebels, behind a full-back line of O’Leary, Millerick and Ballinhassig’s Darragh O’Sullivan.
Downey leads the team from centre back, where he will be flanked by Joyce and Whitechurch’s Michael Mullins.
Twomey and Meade are Cork’s midfield pairing, with the half-forward line comprised of Ben Cunningham, Dalton and Brian Hayes.
Pádraig Power of Blarney will spearhead the attack at full-forward, where he will be joined by Robbie Cotter and Connolly.
Waterford will have a somewhat more developmental team on show at the weekend as Queally looks to cast his eye over several players in advance of the National Hurling League campaign.
Abbeyside’s Charlie Treen and Tom O’Connell from Brickey Rangers will be making their senior debuts in the Fraher Field clash while subs Willie Beresford, Michael Mullaney and Finbarr Reaney could also make their maiden bows during the match.
Shaun O’Brien will start in goal for Waterford, with Lismore’s Iarlaith Daly named at full-back. Seamus Fitzgerald and Martin Power will start either side of Daly while the Waterford half-back line is made up of PJ Fanning, Tom Barron and Pádraig Fitzgerald.
Three-time All Star Jamie Barron partners Reuben Halloran at midfield while the half-forward line sees Jack Prendergast at 11, flanked by Shane Bennett and debutant O’Connell.
Seán Walsh leads the attack at 14, and the Fourmilewater clubman is partnered up top by Treen and Thomas Douglas.
Greene was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and is currently undergoing treatment.
A talented hurler, the Mount Sion man won Munster titles at both club and county level in 2002.
A GoFundMe campaign set up by Sonya Kelly has so far raised €22,680.
It states: “Brian Greene our very good friend has been sick since May 2022 with lung cancer. Brian started his treatment journey in June 2022. Brian and Debbie had purchased a site and built their home over time as a labour of love as they are both DIY enthusiasts. They had started the outside work, groundworks etc and then Brian got sick. We approached Brian to ask for his blessing to continue the work from where he left off nearly 2 years ago and also to help with the obvious financial burden they faced along the way and continue to face as Brian is on his journey.
“The funds will be spent on contractors and building materials to get the works completed. The aim of this Go Fund Me Page is to complete the groundwork’s which they began and we intend to add a therapeutic and wellness room to aid Brian on his journey. With your help we can help Brian along his recovery journey.”
Former Waterford and Lismore forward Seán Daly is one of the driving forces behind Saturday’s charity game at Fraher Field.
“The GAA is a family organisation. When your family are in trouble, people rally around. For me, it’s supporting a friend, plain and simple,” said Daly. “We’re supporting somebody that wants our help right now. Let’s drive it on and make it a good night.”
Among those present at the launch of the fundraiser were Austin Gleeson, Kieran Bennett, PJ Fanning and Dan Shanahan.
“I was honoured to be on the same team as him when we made the breakthrough in 2002. If you got the better of Brian Greene, you were having a good night,” said Shanahan.
“I wish Brian and the family the best of luck. We’ll drive this on the best we can. It’s great that the GAA can come together and make a few pound and make their lives a small bit easier.”
The match will also benefit Waterford Hospice.
“We provide a journey when people are in the palliative care unit for them and their family; to create memories for people at their end of their life,” stated chairperson of Waterford Hospice, Barbara Murphy.
“That is very important. If somebody wants a pizza party with all their friends, that’s what they get. We pay for that.”
♦ Waterford will play Cork in a senior hurling charity match on Saturday January 4th in aid of Brian Greene and in conjunction with Waterford Hospice. Venue: Fraher Field at 5pm. Admission: €10
WATERFORD (SH v Cork): Shaun O’Brien; Seamus Fitzgerald, Iarlaith Daly, Mairtin Power; PJ Fanning, Tom Barron, Pádraig Fitzgerald; Jamie Barron, Reuben Halloran; Shane Bennett, Jack Prendergast, Tom O’Connell; Thomas Douglas, Seán Walsh, Charlie Treen.
CORK (SH v Waterford): Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Ger Millerick, Darragh O’Sullivan; Micheal Mullins, Robert Downey, Ciarán Joyce; Ethan Twomey, Luke Meade; Ben Cunningham, Declan Dalton, Brian Hayes; Robbie Cotter, Pádraig Power, Alan Connolly.
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