Ireland hold off Aussies in thriller
October 24, 2008

IRELAND survived a fierce final-quarter comeback from Australia to post a thrilling 45-44 victory in the series opening International Rules clash at Subiaco Oval.

In front of 35,153 fans, Ireland looked to have the game sewn up when they shot out to a 17-point lead four minutes into the final quarter.

Five unanswered overs saw Australia claw to within one point of the visitors but it wasn't enough, with Ireland holding their nerve in the dying minutes to win 3.6.9 (45) to 0.12.8 (44).

The match featured little biff but Hawthorn hardman Campbell Brown was given a yellow card in the final term for a ferocious hip-and-shoulder on Ireland's Finian Hanley.

Marc Murphy starred for Australia with four overs while Ireland captain Sean Cavanagh led with a goal and two overs.

Australia struggled with the round ball early as Ireland nailed the first over of the match through Cavanagh.

The home side had the chance to hit back when Matt Campbell was brought down in the box but the North Melbourne forward fired the penalty kick straight at the goalkeeper.

The visitors took a 9-1 lead into the first break and shot out to an 18-4 advantage when Leighton Glynn slammed home the first goal of the match.

From there the Aussies took hold, Scott Thompson nailing two overs and Marc Murphy and Campbell landing their own to lift Australia back into the contest.

They could have led by more than a point at half-time but a fantastic save from Ireland goalkeeper David Gallagher denied Murphy a goal and the home side was ahead only 19-18.

Ireland kicked away in the third quarter with Cavanagh's goal at the four-minute mark the highlight of the match.

After receiving a cute chip from Kieran Donaghy, Cavanagh spun around and slammed the ball past Australia goalkeeper Nathan Bock from the tightest of angles.

Ireland was in cruise control when Leighton Glynn's over put them ahead 45-28 at the four-minute mark of the final term but Australia finally clicked into gear, with two overs to Murphy and others to Leigh Montagna, Michael Osborne and David Rodan ensuring a thrilling finish.

Australia coach Mick Malthouse admitted his team struggled to handle the round ball.

"I thought our first quarter was good defensively but we kept giving the ball back to them, which is probably understandable because we've been training with the ball for only one week,'' Malthouse said.

"Our handpassing was quite ordinary at times. I suppose we just haven't been able to master that ball but I reckon the one week we have (before the Melbourne game) we'll improve our skill level.''

Ireland coach Sean Boylan said the game could have easily gone the other way.

"The common thing about this game is that at a certain point it becomes frantic and you certainly saw that out there tonight,'' Boylan said.

"Twice we had a big lead and the way Australia came back, the way they pegged it back it could have quite as easily been the other way around, they could have been a point ahead.''

Ireland resist Aussie comeback
October 31, 2008

IRELAND withstood a late charge from Australia to win the second International Rules Test by four points at the MCG.

The tourists also reclaimed the Cormac McAnellen Cup for the first time since 2004 after winning last Friday night's Test in Perth by a point.

Drew Petrie scored a six-point goal with two minutes left to bring the home side within reach of an unlikely win, but the Irish held on to win 4.8.9 (57) to 3.8.11 (53).

There is little doubt the series will continue next year in Ireland, with no major physical clashes during the game.

On-field violence during the 2005 and 2006 series meant a cancellation last year and the matches only resumed after a series of negotiations between the AFL and Gaelic Athletic Association.

The two sides went out of their way to play the series in the right spirit.

Ireland's triumph on this tour meant the series are tied at five-all since resuming in 1998.

Petrie also scored two three-point overs at the start of the final quarter before a goal to Shaun Burgoyne as the Australians made their late charge, but the Irish deserved to win.

Benny Coulter's second goal late in the last term steadied Ireland, giving them a crucial buffer.

Australian Kade Simpson and Ireland's Graham Canty were judged the series' top players.

Irish captain Sean Cavanagh, the top scorer with four goals, and big forward Kieran Donaghy were also outstanding.

The match was played in wet conditions and the weather undoubtedly affected the crowd size.

The AFL had hoped for 50,000-plus, but only 42,823 attended after the rain came a couple of hours before the start of play.

Australia did most of the attacking early and kicked four of the first five overs to lead by nine points.

But Cavanagh kicked two overs late, giving him three for the quarter and reducing the margin to three points.

The Irish then smashed the home side in the second term as Donaghy and Enda McGinley scored goals.

Ireland blew the margin out to 18 points before Michael Osborne scored Australia's only over of the quarter, reducing the deficit to 15 at half-time.

After Paddy Bradley's over at the start of the third term again took the margin out to 18, Australia pressed as they sensed the game was almost out of their reach.

Australia created a two-on-one scramble deep in attack and Marc Murphy knocked through the home side's first goal of the series. That brought Australia back to within six points and the game was alive again.

Coulter then scored a controversial goal, as Australian Matthew Boyd was dragged off the ball just before the score and should have received a free.

An over to Donaghy meant the Irish again led by 17 at the last change.

Simpson won the Jim Stynes Medal for the player of the series and Canty was voted the top Irish player.

After Nathan Bock had the crucial goalkeeping role for Australia in game one, Michael Firrito took the thankless job, with mixed results.

While he made a couple of saves, Firrito certainly looked like a man who was in the role for the first time.

It was a particularly-emotional series win for the Irish, given the cup is named after McAnallen.

He played for Ireland from 2001-03 but died unexpectedly in early 2004 and was a good friend of Cavanagh's.

Overall, the two sides were most pleased that the series' future is assured.

Campbell Brown's yellow card in the first Test was the only player send-off.

“(The series was) played thankfully within the spirit of what sport should be, when you have two international sides who are in what we call a strange, I suppose, competition,'' said Australian coach Mick Malthouse.

“You only have to look at the way the Irish celebrated to know what it meant.

“If you're talking about the game itself, we tended to make too many errors with the slippery ball.

“I congratulated them (the Australian team) on the very fact that if there's going to be further series and it's played with the same commitment to excellence and sportsmanship, it's got a life and it'll last for a long time.''