Donegal's Declan Coulter of the 2018 PwC All-Stars in action against Laois' Enda Rowland of 2019 PwC All-Stars during the PwC All Star Hurling Tour 2019 All Star game at Zayed Sport City in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
2019 PwC All-Stars Hurling Tour Game
2018 PwC Hurling All-Stars 9-16 2019 PwC Hurling All-Stars 8-9
A really classy performance from Man of the Match, Declan Coulter, helped the 2018 PwC Hurling All-stars to victory over the 2019 PwC Hurling All-Stars in today’s entertaining PwC All-Stars Tour Exhibition Match in Abu Dhabi.
The Donegal star is on the tour as a replacement and proved he’s more than capable of mixing it with the elite hurlers in the country by scoring 1-6 from play.
“It was brilliant,” said Coulter, who is a native of Armagh but now hurling with the Setanta club in Donegal.
“Tough going – it’s warm! It was a great experience being from one of the weaker counties and a nice honour. It was about two weeks ago that I got notice so it was a matter of trying to arrange work and baby sitters but it was a trip you couldn’t turn down – and for my wife Ciara as well to get something out of it.
“It’s a brilliant set-up here. You won’t get a better surface for hurling. Hard to beat it in the sun!”
Declan Coulter is presented with his man of the match award by GAA President, John Horan.
Coulter is one of a number of players from non-Liam MacCarthy Cup counties who have travelled with the All-Stars tour and has enjoyed the experience hugely.
“All the players were brilliant and came over to make themselves known,” said Coulter.
“Obviously I know them but they wouldn’t know me. There were a great couple of social nights and having a beer or two.
“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 there today but it was still tough going! You’re marking lads from Limerick and Cork and Tipperary. It’s a great honour for me.”
Playing in an unfamiliar out-field role, Laois goalkeeper Enda Rowland did his best to inspire the 2019 PwC All-Stars selection by scoring four goals.
But with Coulter, Seamus Harnedy, and Graeme Mulcahy all in sharp scoring form, it was the 2018 selection who pulled clear in the second-half to win comfortably enough in the finish.
2018 All-Stars panel: Paddy McKenna, Sean Finn, Edward Byrne, Dan Morrissey, Declan Hannon, Cian Lynch, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Killian Doyle, Seamus Harnedy, Peter Duggan, John Conlon, Declan Coulter, Graeme Mulcahy
Scorers: D Coulter 1-6, S Harnedy 1-4, G Mulcahy 1-3, S Finn 2-0, E Byrne 1-1, P Duggan, J Conlon, D Morrissey 1-0 each, D Hannon, K Doyle 0-1
2019 All-Stars panel: Anthony Nash, Padraig Maher, Wayne McNamara, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, James Weir, Neil McManus, Paddy Purcell, Shane Conway, Noel McGrath, John McGrath, Patrick Horgan, Richie Hogan, Enda Rowland, Seamus Callanan Lee Chin, Cathal Barrett.
Scorers: E Rowland 4-0, P Horgan 1-4, S Conway 1-2, J McGrath 1-0, A Power 1-1, R Hogan, D O’Keeffe 0-1 each
Referee: James Owens
2019 PwC All-Stars Hurling Tour Game
