Ballyduff rallies to the aid of injured Kearney

WITH the future playing career of one of Waterford’s brightest young hurling stars now in serious doubt following the horrific injuries he received in a single car accident last month, his club is rallying to the cause in an effort to raise funds that will help meet the massive medical costs he is now facing.

Following two operations in Dublin’s Mater Hospital, 23-year-old Ballyduff Upper clubman Pa Kearney has been transferred to the National Rehabilitation Institute in Dun Laoghaire where he will remain for the foreseeable future. “Its going to be a long haul back for Pa, and to be honest we can’t say at this point in time if he will ever again pull on a jersey for club or county,” a Ballyduff official said.

A member of the Waterford senior hurling league and championship panel in 2008, he opted out this year and played instead with the intermediate side that reached the Munster final only to lose to eventual All-Ireland winners Cork.

He played a starring role in his club’s sensational county senior hurling championship title win of 2007.

Ballyduff have decided to embark on a number of major fundraising events in the coming weeks and months in a concerted effort to break the financial fall for the Kearney family.

First up next Friday night is a table quiz in one of the village pubs, “An Sibín,” and on the following Friday night, December 12th, a major benefit night of musical entertainment will be held in all of the local pubs.

A monster raffle is also being held with prizes that will include two Premium match tickets for Ireland’s home games against Wales and Scotland in the Six Nations Rugby Championship, and a Waterford jersey signed by every Waterford player who gained All Star recognition over the years.

Ticket sellers from the club will be on duty outside Semple Stadium on Sunday before the Ballygunner/Newtownshandrum Munster club hurling final, while every club in Waterford is being asked to come on board to support the raffle.

“The medical costs involved will be astronomical, and in Pa’s hour of greatest need it is incumbent on the club that he has given all of his young life to step up to the plate and offer every possible practical assistance,” the Ballyduff spokesman said.