Saturday marked one of the greatest days in Cumann Pheadaír Naofa hurling history when eight of our club hurlers, joined with 20 other hurlers from across Ulster and got to rub shoulders with some of the finest hurlers to ever grace the fields of Ireland. There was great excitement in Ulster as the Kilkenny Legends travelled to Páirc Esler with a team of stars who would challenge any All Ireland title, with high profile names such as DJ Carey, Carter, Michael Carey and John Mulhall. Quite an impressive list that extends right into the subs bench and when you look at their achievement they have between them accumulated numerous All Ireland medals, All Stars, Club Championships, Provincial titles to name but a few.
To challenge these giants of the game the St Peters/Ulster select team named some of greatest stick masters in Ulster. In goals was 9 time Ulster champion & All-Ireland club winner Chris O’Connell & Down Christy Ring winner Stephen “viper” Keith, both of these guys proved to be excellent shot stoppers and superb readers of the game. With Chris’s club mate Odhrán McFadden in the half back line and Derry’s Liam Hinphey (whose father hails from Kilkenny and played with some former greats himself). The Ulster team did not lack in experience. Upfront the Ulster team were looking to Ciarán Clarke of Ballycastle and Down Christy Ring winner Daniel Toner of Ballygalget & Newry Shamrocks Paul Sheehan. Some other players who shone on the Ulster side are Keadys Conor Corvan, Shéa Gaffney from Middletown & Connor Devlin of Cuchulainns all who have Nicky Rackard medals with Armagh.
Fans were treated to a surprise visitor in the stand when the Liam McCarthy Cup did the rounds and people queued to get their hands on the most famous piece of silverware in hurling circles. The final score after 30 minutes read Kilkenny Legends 4.12 Ulster Select 1.10, however the crowd were not interested in the final score, they were just delighted to have witnessed such an entertaining game of hurling. The crowd were eagerly awaiting the final whistle so they could break out of the stands and make run to the field to meet their idols. DJ Carey proved very popular, and in true gentlemanly style he stayed on the pitch for an hour enabling fans to get their photo opportunity.
The event was attended by numerous dignitaries in the local area and Rackard Cody made a special presentation to Raymond Tumilty from O’Neills on behalf of the Kilkenny Legends team as a token of their thanks for O’Neills continue sponsorship of the team. Presentations were then also made to Kilkenny Legends Captain Charlie Carter and St Peter’s/Ulster Captain Chris Rooney.
Ulster scores; Danny Toner (ballygalget), John OKane 0.02 (cpn), Ruairi Convery 0.02 (Swatragh), Shéa Gaffney (Middletown) Liam Hinphey 0.02 (Kevin Lynch) Danny Cullen 1.02 (Setanta)
Kilkenny scores; Kilkenny goal scorers; DJ Carey – 1, Charlie Carter – 2 Michael Carey – 1. Points came from a number of Kilkenny players including: Charlie Carter, Martin Carey, Michael Grace & John Mulhall
