A BRACE of goals from Tony Carmody and Paul Flynn late in the game saw the 2004 All Star selection emerge victorious with a sixpoint cushion in yesterday's Vodafone All Star hurling exhibition match in Singapore.

A crowd of more than 3,000 people had 15 goals to savour by the final whistle as the 2005 team improved from a sloppy opening to make the Polo Grounds contest worthy of its billing.

It was agreed before the game to play four 12-minute periods and to reduce the teams to less than their full compliment using interchangeable subs throughout, a ploy that allowed for an open and high scoring game to unfold in stormy conditions.

John Allen's 2005 team opened brightly, firing off three early points from Tipperary's Eoin Kelly (two) and John Mullane.

However, four goals for the Donal O'Grady led 2004 All-Stars, in a productive seven minute spell, put his men in control and impressive strikes from Waterford's Eoin Kelly (two), Dan Shanahan and Tony Carmody allowed them to go in 4-2 to 1-4 up after the first quarter.

Although Ger Farragher and Mullane went some way to cancelling out those goal strikes, a prominent showing from Niall Gilligan in the second period kept the '04 selection on top.

With man of the match Damien Fitzhenry in excellent form and Dave Bennett and Shanahan combining extremely well, they took a slender lead into the closing quarter after the '05 team were rejuvenated by strikes from Eoin Larkin and Paul Kelly.

The game appeared to be destined for a draw in the closing stages before David Forde threatened to win it for last year's All Star team by putting them ahead late on for the first time since the opening minutes of the match.

However, Carmody and Flynn came to the rescue of O'Grady's team and their late strikes rounded off a high scoring win.

2004 ALL STARS D Fitzhenry; E Corcoran, B Lohan, T Walsh; JJ Delaney, O Moran 0-1, D Bennett 1-1; A Fenlon, D Shanahan 2-0; T Carmody 2-4, N Moran 1-0, E Kelly 2-1; N Gilligan 0-4, P Flynn 1-1

2005 ALL STARS D Fitzgerald; P Maher, D Ryan, D Joyce; D Hardiman, D O'Connor, T Regan 0-1; F Healy 0-2, P Kelly 1-2; J Mullane 1-1, E Larkin 3-1, G Farragher 1-2; E Kelly 0-4, D Forde 0-2 Referee S Roche (Tipperary)