Donegal’s Coulter top man in All-Star shoot-out

DECLAN COULTER made a major statement on behalf of hurlers from lowerranked counties when delivering a man-of-the-match performance in yesterday’s All-Stars exhibition game in Abu Dhabi.

A native of Armagh, but now playing with Donegal where he also lives, the Setanta club man (above) scored 1-6 from play, while looking very much at home in the company of celebrated names from the top counties.

“It was brilliant. Tough going in that heat (around 28 degrees), but a great experience, being from one of the weaker counties. All the players (from the stronger counties) have been brilliant and came over to make themselves known. Obviously I know them but they wouldn’t know me.

“At the end of the day we’re all hurlers and when the ball is thrown in, you want to do your best. It obviously wasn’t All-Ireland final pace, but it was still tough going. You’re marking lads from Limerick, Cork and Tipperary. It’s a great honour for me,” said Coulter.

Nominees

He was on a team drawn mainly from 2018 All-Star winners and nominees, who beat their 2019 equivalents by 9-16 to 8-9. James Weir (Sligo), Paddy McKenna (Kildare), Killian Doyle (Westmeath), Neil McManus (Antrim), Edward Byrne (Carlow), Shane Conway (Kerry), plus Laois pair, Paddy Purcell and Enda Rowland, also featured as part of an initiative to reward players from counties other than the traditional powers who feature in the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship.

With McKenna and Cork’s Anthony Nash in either goal, Rowland, who has been outstanding between the Laois posts in recent seasons, played outfield and helped himself to four goals for the 2019 selection.

Patrick Horgan scored 1-4 and Shane Conway 1-2 scored for the 2019 team, while Coulter (1-6), Seamus Harnedy (1-4), Seán Finn (2-0) and Graeme Mulcahy (1-3) were top marksmen for the 2018 selection.