Despite the brilliance of Conor McManus and Michael Murphy, Ireland wilted in the Adelaide heat and have it all to do to retain the International Rules series in next Saturday’s test in Perth.

As Joe Kernan keeps his fingers crossed that three of his bug-stricken players will be able to play some part in the first test, the Ireland International Rules manager has underlined the importance of the two referees doing their job tomorrow.

"HEARTBREAKING”. Pearce Hanley has no better way of describing Mayo’s close-run All-Ireland finals these last four years.

Like their last two All-Ireland final clashes, champions Dublin have pipped Mayo by one in the 2017 PwC All-Stars, picking up seven to Mayo’s six.

Cork's Sean Powter and Niall Grimley of Armagh have been confirmed as the final two tourists for the upcoming International Rules series.

Ireland’s International Rules prospects have been boosted by the likely inclusion of a number of Australian based AFL players for this year’s series.

Kerry starlet Mark O’Connor says Geelong’s similarity with his native Dingle was the main reason he inked a deal with the AFL club over other suitors.

A few high-profile footy players have returned home, but with nine Irish players set to feature, there will be plenty of interest in in the 2015 AFL season, which kicks off this morning in Melbourne.

The scene in Dublin Airport was sad to watch yet it probably takes place every day, writes Paddy Heaney.

Australia 56 Ireland 46

It mightn’t have worked out the way he intended but Lee Keegan at least cleared his name.

Some big names will be missing from the Ireland squad when they take on Australia in the 2013 International Rules series later this month in Cavan and Dublin.

Laois senior football manager Justin McNulty stepped down from his role last night.

Kilkenny are on the verge of losing one of their most promising starlets to the AFL.

He remembers his last moments in a Mayo jersey like it was yesterday.

Former Kerry ace Tommy Walsh has been given an 11th-hour opportunity to play a role for high-flying Sydney Swans in the AFL’s finals’ series, earning a recall for tomorrow’s clash against Geelong.

A significant change to regulations relating to developmental players is likely to see an increase in interest in Irish players by AFL clubs.

Reports that Seanie Johnston’s bid to achieve an inter-county transfer from Cavan to Kildare was over for this year have proved wide of the mark after the former Breffni captain resubmitted his application to the Central Competitions’ Control Committee yesterday.

JIM STYNES’ appearance at last Friday’s International Rules Test in Melbourne came just days after his wife feared his battle against cancer had taken a dramatic setback.

JUST 14,000 spectators are expected to attend Friday’s International Rules second Test at the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium.

THERE’S an air about Pearce Hanley that’s hard not to like.

ANTHONY TOHILL has enforced a Twitter ban on his International Rules squad in Australia.

Ireland manager Anthony Tohill will not allow himself or his players to get carried away by their record-breaking first Test win over Australia in Melbourne.

Australia 36 (1-8-6) Ireland 80 (4-17-5)

KARL LACEY is expected to be the odd man out for tomorrow’s International Rules first test.

ANTHONY TOHILL’S task of winning the Cormac McAnallen Cup in Australia became a lot harder at the weekend when Mayo’s Pearce Hanley, pictured, was arrested and Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan was ruled out of the panel.

PEARCE HANLEY had a career high 30 disposals but it was another losing effort by Brisbane as they lost to a James Podsiadly-inspired Geelong, 133-104.

TRIBUTES have poured in for AFL pioneer Sean Wight, who has passed away at the age of 47 after a short battle with lung cancer.

ZACH TUOHY was the only Irish player on a winning team in round 13 of the AFL season, as the improving Carlton accounted for Tadhg Kennelly’s Sydney Swans 100-66 yesterday.

ZACH TUOHY scored his first AFL goal in only his second game yesterday as his Carlton side trounced a Brisbane side that included Pearce Hanley by 124-63 to move third in the league.

NEW Laois boss Justin McNulty is likely to have the services of Conor Meredith next season after the former minor star was released by AFL side North Melbourne yesterday.

THE green and gold malaise that was the story of the Championship weekend wasn’t merely limited to the borders of the Kingdom.

The glamour clash with Setanta Ó hAilpín may not have materialised but Tadhg Kennelly still made the most of his trip to Melbourne as Sydney solidified their play-off position with a comfortable victory over Carlton.

THE glamour clash with Setanta Ó hAilpín may not have materialised but Tadhg Kennelly still made the most of his trip to Melbourne as Sydney solidified their play-off position with a comfortable victory over Carlton.

THE prospect of a clash of the two biggest Irish stars Down Under was wrecked yesterday when Setanta Ó hAilpín was unceremoniously dropped from the Carlton Blues line-up for this weekend’s AFL showdown with Sydney.

MICHAEL QUINN will become the fourth Irishman to feature in the Australian Rules top flight this season after the Longford man was named in the Essendon team for tomorrow’s trip to Adelaide.

SETANTA O hAilpín’s red-hot start to the new Aussie Rules season continued unabated yesterday, but it wasn’t enough to give him victory in his grudge match with bad boy Brendan Fevola.

IT COULDN’T have been more fitting as an Aussie Rules season that shapes up to have a greater Irish influence than ever before, kicked off last night with one of our exports providing the opening night fireworks.

TOMMY WALSH has failed to make the St Kilda panel for tomorrow’s second round NAB Cup game against Sydney Swans.

MICHAEL QUINN continued the hugely positive impression he is making on Aussie Rules experts, with an accomplished performance on his return to the Essendon team that drew with Brisbane 87-87 on Saturday.