Freezing weather conditions did not stop a large turnout of over a thousand people for the game. The harsh weather meant the players had great difficulty with passing and shooting especially in the first quarter. When they finally acclimatized to the conditions they treated the large crowd to a showcase game of hurling. The second half was especially good as we had a plethora of goals and points. Eoin Kelly had the opening point for the 2006 all stars after twenty seconds. John Mullane replied for the 2007 team with a point four minutes later.
Shane McGrath and Andrew Shaughnessey had a point for each side. The 2006 team was dominating the early exchanges and Eoin Kelly was on hand to fire over his second point after fifteen minutes.
The 2007 finally started to get their act together and Andrew Shaughnessey had a goal after good work by Ollie Moran and Eddie Brennan. A minute later the 2007 team had their second goal this time from Ollie Moran who soloed in from midfield and fired home.
The 2006 team responded with a goal from a penalty after Tony Griffin as he soloed in on goal. Eoin Kelly blasted the penalty to the net and he followed with a point from a free to tie the game with three minutes left in the half.
The 2007 team almost had their third goal when but John Mullane had a rasper of a shot brilliantly saved by keeper Donal Og Cusack. The first half closed with Stephen Molumphy firing over a point for the 2007 team to give them a one point edge at the break 2-2 to 1-4.
The second half was a much better affair and the skill and expertise you would expect from the premier hurlers of Ireland was very much in evidence as both sides put on a clinical display of shooting and scoring. The scores came early and often in this half. Ollie Moran opened with a super point for the 2007 team.
But the 2006 team would control the game for the next ten minutes. James Young led the way for them as he helped himself to a goal and point. Shane McGrath Tony Griffin and Alan Kerins had a point each as the 2006 team built a seven point lead.
The 2007 team again came storming back into the game and in a three minutes spell they wiped out the deficit. Stephen Molumphy had a goal that was quickly followed by a second goal from John Mullane who had been threatening all game long to score one. Ollie Moran tied the game with another lovely point from an awkward angle.
The hurling was now a joy to watch as both sides exchanged seven points between them over the next five minutes. As we entered the finals stages of the game the 2007 team were finally able to break the impasse between the teams as Kilkenny’s goal poacher supreme Eddie Brennan slotted home their fifth goal off the game after a good pass from Mullane. Brennan added a point a minutes later and they made the game safe with a goal from Molumphy after good work by Andrew Shaughnessey.
Eoin Kelly had a late consolation goal for the 06 all stars but it came just as we entered the final few seconds off the game with the 07 team winners by six points.
Best for the winners were John Mullane Ollie Moran Brian Murray Declan Fanning Stephen Molumphy Andrew Shaughnessey and Eddie Brennan
For the 2006 team Donal Og Cusack, Eoin Murphy Ronan Curran James Young Eoin Kelly and Tony Griffin were best.
2007 All Stars – Brian Murray Michael Kavanagh Declan Fanning Aiden Kearney Tony Browne Tommy Walsh Michael Walsh Donal O’Grady Ollie Moran Stephen Molumphy Andrew O’Shaughnessy Eddie Brennan John Mullane.
Stephen Molumphy 1-3 Ollie Moran 1-2 Andrew Shaughnessey 1-1 John Mullane 1-1 Eddie Brennan 1-1 Michael Walsh 1-1
2006 All Stars – Donal Og Cusack Eoin Murphy J.J. Delaney Seamus Hickey Ronan Curran Keith Rossiter Shane McGrath Derek Lyng Alan Kerins Eoin McGrath James Young Eoin Kelly Martin Comerford Tony Griffin Subs Neil Ronan Noel Hickey
Eoin Kelly 2-4 James Young 1-2 Shane McGrath 1-2 Tony Griffin 0-2 Alan Kerins 0-1