All Stars score with fans in show game

2002 Allstars 13-18

At one end Meath's Cormac Sullivan was the unfortunate net minder to concede thirteen goals, while at the other, teammate Ollie Murphy scored four of the nine which sped past Benny Tierney.

The 2002 Vodafone Football Allstars triumphed in this exhibition played in San Diego University on Saturday on a pitch used for American football and soccer and, because of the major influence of half of Armagh's All-Ireland winning team, the outcome was predictable.

In glorious sunshine, the game attracted an attendance of no more than a few hundred, among whom were four former Allstar winners now resident in southern California.

They included Fr Nicholas Clavin from Offaly a member of the very first Allstars team in 1971 Tom Heneghan (Roscommon), Liam O'Neill (Galway) whose son Kevin was an award winner with Mayo and Cork's 1977 All-Ireland winning hurling captain Martin O'Doherty.

The high scoring, unusual even for a game of this sort, owed as much to the shortened length of the pitch as it did to the quality of the players on show. Among them, Peter Canavan, Paul McGrane, John Gildea and Kieran McGeeney were especially prominent for the winners, while Kevin Walsh and Stephen O'Neill provided regular support for Ollie Murphy on the 2001 side.

GAA President Sean McCague acknowledged that the game was as skilful as the hurling exhibition in Buenos Aires twelve months ago.

Peter Canavan got one goal from a headed shot with the President heard to joke that he could only have been suspended if he missed it while Benny Tierney came upfield at one stage to kick over a point.

Mr. McCague said that as one who had always had a concern about players getting the maximum enjoyment from playing their games, the gaining of an Allstar award in tandem with an overseas trip was now 'very coveted.'

"I hope it continues, because it's a wonderful social event for the players."

Benny Tierney, who has as good as retired permanently, laughed at the comment that it marked his last competitive game. "That wasn't competitive," he joked, adding: "but, it was a very enjoyable experience. I played with Peter Canavan in college but I had never played with him since. Overall, it was great to play with lads you have admired all your life. For me it was a nice way to go out, playing with the best."

Winning manager Joe Kernan found it 'an unbelievable score,' saying that the players didn't hold back. "The boys gave a hundred per-cent effort. I was pleasantly surprised how well the Armagh boys did, but, we're used to this heat training, you know yourself" (a reference to the team's much-publicised trip to La Manga last summer).

Tipperary star Declan Browne (who missed out on a trip after winning an award in 1998) and Wexford's star wing-back Leigh O'Brien were both delighted in playing with many of the best players in the game. "Getting to know players from all over the country and touring with them has been a great experience," said Browne. And, O'Brien felt similarly honoured. "To play with the likes of the Armagh lads was special," he added.

Scorers for 2002 Allstars: P. McGrane 3-0; P. Canavan and S. McDonnell 2-3 each; D. Browne 2-2; A. O'Rourke 2-1; K. Cassidy and E. O'Hara 1-2 each; E. McNulty and J. Gildea 0-2 each; B. Tierney, K. McGeeney, J. Quane, A. Lynch and C. Lawn 0-1 each.

2001 Allstars: O. Murphy 4-6; R. O'Connell 2-0; E. Kelly 1-3; S. O'Neill 1-2; J. Crowley 1-1 ;J. McEntee 0-3; J. Bergin and D. Mitchell 0-2 each.

2002 ALLSTARS: B. Tierney (Armagh); E. McNulty (do), C. Lawn (Tyrone); A. O'Rourke (Armagh), K. McGeeney (do., capt.), K. Cassidy (Donegal); P. McGrane (Armagh), J. Quane (Limerick); J. Gildea (Donegal), E. O'Hara (Sligo), D. Browne (Tipperary); S. McDonnell (Armagh), P. Canavan (Tyrone). Inter-change: A. Lynch (Cork).

2001 ALLSTARS: C. Sullivan (Meath); K. Fitzgerald (Galway), G. Doherty (Derry); D. Meehan (Galway), L. O'Brien (Wexford), S. Og de Paor (Galway); K. Walsh (do, capt.), R. O'Connell (Westmeath); E. Kelly (Meath), S. O'Neill (Tyrone), J. Bergin (Galway); O. Murphy (Meath), J. McEntee (Armagh). Inter-change: D. Mitchell (Westmeath) and J. Crowley (Kerry).

Referee: J. Bannon (Longford).