Keepers used as targets as Allstars get in close

2004 Allstars 9-12 2005 Allstars 6-15

Davy Fitzgerald and Damien Fitzhenry may be acknowledged as the best shot-stoppers in hurling, but between them they conceded 15 goals in the week-end exhibition game involving the 2004 and 2005 Vodafone GAA Allstars.

Fitzgerald was none too happy afterwards. Fitzhenry, for his part, had reason to be more positive, but he still had a problem.

The Wexford star not only had the satisfaction of captaining the winning team, but he also picked up €250 for being chosen as the man of the match.

It was a simple matter of defenders being 'easy' on the opposing forwards in a twelve-a-side game played over four quarters of twelve minutes - and using the goalkeepers as target practice! Fitzgerald remarked that whatever chance he had of stopping shots hit from a 25 yards range, he was powerless when the players were getting in much closer.

Fitzhenry not only echoed these comments, but suggested that there was a need for a 'slight modification' of the rules to protect goalkeepers.

"The real thing is to come here and show off the skills of the game, but back home players wouldn't be getting in that far to take a shot. When you look at the scoreline, some of the shots and some of the goals that went in were unstoppable. It was also somewhat dangerous as well."

Scorers: 2004 Allstars: T. Carmody 2-4; E. Kelly 2-1; D. Shanahan 2-0; D. Bennett and P. Flynn 1-1 each; P. Flynn 0-4; N. Moran 1-0; O. Moran 0-1. 2005 Allstars: E. Larkin 3-1; P. Kelly and G. Farragher 1-2 each; J. Mullane 1-1; E. Kelly 0-4; F. Healy and D. Forde 0-2 each; T. Óg Regan 0-1 ('65).