MUNSTER Rugby pair Shane Daly and Dan Kelly emerged winners of a charity exhibition match on the eve of the inaugural Hiscox Padel Irish Open at Padel-LK, Delta Retal Park, Ballysimon Road.
With it came a prize of €1,500 for their chosen charities, the Irish Heart Foundation and the Matt Hampson Foundation.
Other sporting figures to feature included Limerick boxer Lee Reeves, Young Hurler of the Year nominee Shane O’Brien, Limerick, Clare footballer Ailish Considine, and the decorated retired hurler Joe Canning of Galway.
The charity event served as the perfect warm-up for the Open which is bringing world-class padel to Ireland for the very first time this weekend.
It runs through until Sunday.
Padel is a growing racquet sport.
Organised by ForeFront Sports and the Padel Federation of Ireland in partnership with Padel LK, the Open represents a major milestone for the sport, drawing top international talent and putting Limerick on the global padel map, said Cian Branagan, CEO of ForeFront Group.
“The Hiscox Padel Irish Open this week is about competition and also community. The charity match captured that spirit perfectly. The atmosphere was incredible, and it’s only going to build from here as the event unfolds this week,” he said.
For full tournament details and ticket information, visit padelirishopen.ie.