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versatile

5 hurling goalkeepers who can play a bit outfield

They can stop scores at one end and strike them at the other.

5. Cork – Darren McCarthy

Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

He won his second successive Fitzgibbon Cup medal with UCC last Saturday – the latest triumph as captain – and bounced onto the senior inter-county stage last summer as understudy to Anthony Nash with Cork. Darren McCarthy’s goalkeeping development is no surprise given the potential he showed at underage level.

But with his club Ballymartle, McCarthy is utilized in an outfield capacity. He helped them reach the semi-finals of the Cork senior championship last year and has demonstrated an ability to act in midfield or attack.

His finest moment arrived on February 13th, 2011 in Croke Park. Ballymartle were trailing by two points in the closing stages of the All-Ireland club IHC final against Kilkenny’s Dicksboro when McCarthy intervened.

‘I was fairly haunted’ was his description of what happened in the video below.

(Go to 8m44s)

YouTube: maccork

4. Limerick – Nickie Quaid

Pic: INPHO/James Crombie.

On the Limerick team that reached last year’s All-Ireland quarter-finals, Quaid enjoyed a fine summer between the sticks. He maintained a rich family tradition in the position in the process. Limerick bowed out against Kilkenny in late July yet Quaid’s contributions bagged him an Allstar nomination for the number one spot.

In 2010 it was at wing-forward that he made his senior debut as a substitute for Limerick in the Munster semi-final against Cork. He subsequently started against Offaly in the qualifiers and his outfield forays continued as he inspired his club Effin from centre-back to win the 2011 Munster club IHC final.

Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

3. Kilkenny – Eoin Murphy

Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Concussion has ruled Murphy out of the equation for Kilkenny for tomorrow’s battle with Tipperary in Semple Stadium. He had previously got the nod to start between the posts a fortnight ago in Brian Cody’s side’s league opener against Galway.

Murphy sustained the injury for Waterford IT, where he lined out at wing-forward this season, in last weekend’s Fitzgibbon Cup. He racked up impressive scoring totals in the third-level arena. Indeed last March he lined out in goal for the Kilkenny senior side against Waterford and a fortnight later bagged a starting place in attack against Cork.

Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

2. Tipperary – Brendan Cummins

Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

With two All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals and five Allstar awards, Brendan Cummins has enjoyed a good innings in his long and productive career as a Tipperary senior hurler. It shows no sign of halting either as he is still a strong figure this season.

But Cummins has a versatile streak. At club hurling level he has been known to play out the field for Ballybacon-Grange. And of course he was a noted attacker for the county’s football side, embarking on a dual career at inter-county level in his early years and nearly claiming a Munster senior football medal in 2002 when Tipperary lost out to Cork after a replay.

Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

1. Wexford – Eanna Martin

Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

Injury has prevented Martin from lining out to date in the 2013 league campaign but he will be hoping to return to full fitness and reclaim the number one jersey that he wore for the Model County during last summer’s championship.

Before that Martin had been more recognized as a midfielder and indeed lined out for the county in attack in previous Leinster and All-Ireland championship campaigns. He still has plenty involvement outfield though, lining out at half-back last October for his club Sarsfields when they claimed honours in the Cork senior hurling final.

Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

Who have we left out?

Let us know in the comments section below.

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