AMAZING: Cork GAA to generously raise funds for Dillon Quirke Foundation

The Dillon Quirke Foundation will be among the beneficiaries as the Canon O’Brien Cup celebrates its tenth anniversary at the Mardyke tonight at 7pm, thanks to a fundraiser match being organised in a neighbouring county.

Cork GAA have ran the UCC v Cork fixture in honour of the legendary hurling coach has been played each January since 2013, apart from 2018, when the game was postponed due to bad weather and then unable to be re-fixed due to scheduling difficulties, and 2021, when Covid-19 dictated so much of the GAA calendar.

Thankfully, things are back to close to normal and the foundation set up to honour the memory of the Tipperary hurler, who tragically died last August, will receive a percentage of the gate receipts.

This is just the latest show of class from the Cork GAA family towards Tipperary and the family of Dillon Quirke, after Cork senior hurler and opponent of Quirke in last year's championship clash Shane Kingston returned Dillon's last Tipperary jersey to Clonoulty and Quirke's family after the funeral last August.

Speaking to the 42.ie on the match, UCC manager Tom Kingston highlighted the shock that was felt in Cork at the time of Dillon's passing, and their want to help the fundraiser set up by his family before Christmas.

“Dillon’s passing was such a shock and tragedy,” said UCC manager Tom Kingston.

“UCC always every year donate proceeds from this game to some charity. Dillon’s Foundation was the standout one for this year and an obvious choice. It’s something small for his family and his father Dan, who I know.

“We will talk about Dillon in our team meeting before tomorrow’s game. A lot of our lads would have played against him last year with Cork, he was a player and a person they were very familiar with.” he finished.