Cregg takes centre stage during All-Stars clash

2009 All Stars 10-8 2010 All Stars 9-11

The 2009 Football All-Stars beat their 2010 counterparts in a high-scoring encounter in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia earlier today.

Roscommon's Cathal Cregg, a 2010 replacement All-Star, impressed with a personal haul of 4-2, but it was not enough to see his side claim victory.

The 2009 side, managed by Down's James McCartan, prevailed after penalty kicks.

Cregg was introduced as a first half substitute and all four of his goals came in a well-contested second half.

While Cregg dominated the second half scoring, 2010 Footballer of the Year Bernard Brogan set the early pace. He laid down a maker with a fourth minute point and by the interval he had amassed 1-3 from play. Brogan's goal arrived in the sixth minute following a neat fist pass by Cork's Donncha O’Connor.

The 2010 All-Stars made all the early running and built up a ten-point lead, 3-8 to 1-4, by the 18th minute.

Brogan and Cork duo O'Connor and Aidan Walsh claimed the early goals, with the 2009 All-Stars' reply coming from Pearse O’Neill.

The 2009 representatives closed the gap to three points by the interval on a 3-8 to 3-5 scoreline, thanks to further goals from Daniel Goulding and Joe Sheridan, who found the target with a cracking effort.

The other highlight of the first half was the point scored by Asian All-Star Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, who is a journalist by trade. He only took up Gaelic football three months ago and plays second division soccer in Vietnam.

The first of the shortened 25-minute halves was brought to a close one minute early due to a looming thunder storm, but Conor Counihan's 2010 All-Stars stretched their lead immediately after the 15-minute break thanks to the first of Cregg's goals.

The Roscommon forward followed it up with three more in an incredible 13-goal second half which also saw Cork defender John Miskella hit two and Brogan raise his personal tally to 2-3.

Asian All-Star Ngoc Quynh continued his dream All-Stars debut as he slotted home one of the 2009 All-Stars' goals in a penalty shoot-out which they won 4-1.

Scorers - 2009 All-Stars: D Goulding 2-3, J Miskella and J Sheridan 2-0 each, K McKernan, L Glynn, P O'Neill, B Cahill 1-0 each, D Shine 0-3, M McCann, N Ngoc Quynh 0-1 each

2010 All-Stars: C Cregg 4-2, B Brogan 2-3, A Walsh 1-1, D O'Connor, B Coulter 1-0 each, M Clarke, P Kerrigan 0-2 each, D Kelly 0-1

2009 All-Stars: A Quirke (Cork); K Lacey (Donegal), M Shields (Cork) B Cahill (Dublin); R McMenamin (Tyrone), K McKernan (Down), J Miskella (Cork); N Murphy (Cork), S Scanlon (Kerry); L Glynn (Wicklow), P O’Neill (Cork), J Sheridan (Meath); D Goulding (Cork), D Shine (Roscommon), M McCann (Antrim).

Sub used: Nguyen Ngoc Quynh (Vietnam Asian All-Star)

2010 All Stars: B McVeigh (Down); P McMahon (Dublin), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), C Harrison (Sligo); P Kissane (Cork); A. Moran (Mayo), Joe McMahon (Tyrone); P Keenan (Louth), A Walsh (Cork); D O’Connor (Cork), M Clarke (Down), P Kerrigan (Cork); D Kelly (Sligo), B Brogan (Dublin), B Coulter (Down).

Sub used: C Cregg (Roscommon)

Referees: David Coldrick (Meath) and Michael Wadding (Waterford)