2015/16 Football Allstars game: 2015 Allstars 10-11 2016 Allstars 14-11
MICKEY Harte put a brave face on matters despite his 2015 select slumping to a devastating defeat by the fresher 2016 incarnation.
Harte’s captain for the day, Dublin’s Bernard Brogan, had won the toss and the Tyrone manager insisted on the teams changing ends in order to use the wind advantage first, but that did not pay off.
This year’s side, led by Tipperary boss Liam Kearns, netted the first of their 14 goals in the first minute and only lost that lead once, when Conor McManus quickly goaled at the other end to equalise.
Once 2016 skipper Dean Rock found the net they remained ahead, even as the goals rained in regularly under the desert sun.
‘2016’ found the net nine times before the break – a half controversially ended after just 28 minutes – and their four-goal lead at that stage, 9-6 to 5-6, was maintained at the end. The second half was drawn, 5-5 apiece.
The fact that there were nine goals scored before the first point was recorded summed up the nature of this game, although Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke did make some smart saves for the winners.
Thirteen-a-side teams, no sweepers, heat in the high 20s, only one sub between the two teams, and the now traditional lack of any tackling all contributed to this goal-fest. Indeed points became the scores of note, with Monaghan’s McManus swinging over a trademark beauty and Peter Harte lofting a lovely left-footed effort in the second half.
Big Neil Gallagher notched probably the best, volleying over from a cleverly cushioned volley foot-pass from McManus, with Dublin defender Philly McMahon following suit at the other end, crashing his effort over off the crossbar.
It seemed for a time early in the second half that the teams had been instructed to take their points, but, as is their wont, the goals will come, and 10 more arrived after the break, split equally between the two teams.
Score-keeping descended into statistical quirks, such as 2016 moving onto 10-10 thanks to their number 10 (Peter Harte) and 2015 reaching 9-9 with a goal slam-dunked in by their number nine (Colm Cavanagh).
In similar vein, the two numbers 12s ended up as joint-top scorers, Dublin’s Ciaran Kilkenny and Donegal captain Michael Murphy registering 3-2 each.
