O’Keefe rues dodgy penalty

Ireland 48 (2-9-9) Australia 45 (1-10-9)

Irish boss John O'Keefe, at a loss to explain the reasoning behind the awarding of the spot kick, admitted that Ireland's ten point defeat in Perth, ultimately proved their undoing.

And, in this context, he accepted that the inexperience in the team had been a key factor putting forward a suggestion (favoured by GAA leaders, but not by the Australian manager) that a third test should be factored in for the future.

After a demanding week of preparation and a huge physical effort on the night, it was frustrating for the Irish players to lose on aggregate by a margin of seven points.

That was because they enjoyed a big lead at the end of the first quarter and were ahead by 17 points even after conceding the penalty facing into the final twenty minutes.

After that, it started to unravel for them, with the stamina of the full-time players proving crucial.

Yet, it was all so different in the opening 40 minutes of the game. In contrast to their Perth form, Ireland were much slicker in their use of the ball.

And, not surprisingly, they were better able to cope with the added challenge of playing on a wet and slippery surface. Tactically, they were also much better prepared, both in terms of coping with the tackle and using it to their own benefit in a manner which largely failed them last week.

The strategy of playing Graham Canty on big full-forward Barry Hall and using Kieran McGeeney to limit the flow of possession to him worked extremely well.

While he was denied the freedom he enjoyed in the half-back line last week, Canty made a particularly valuable contribution to the team effort as captain and was named best Irish 'player of the series' for the second year in a row.

Additionally, Sean Marty Lockhart, Paddy Christie and especially Anthony Lynch were to get through some marvellous work in defence, while Ciaran McManus put in a typically storming display around midfield.

Apart from Padraic Joyce who had a major input, Brian McDonald's excellence complemented the skill of Steven McDonnell up front and Benny Coulter worked tirelessly.

Missing full-back Matthew Scarlett (and Mark Bickley) through suspension, Australia struggled to get into the game. And, after Steven McDonnell goaled in the 10th minute and a Nathan Browne goal was disallowed they lost ground steadily.

It was 22/4 at the end of the first quarter and Ireland led by double scores (30-15) by the break. In general, the outlook appeared more than promising for O'Keefe's team, as Australia's attack was blunted and the wet ball was causing them a lot of problems.

Psychologically, the scoring of the Australian penalty by Brent Harvey (for a foul on Hall), was a huge boost as it put them in front on aggregate for the first time in the game.

Nevertheless, after surviving a sticky period, Ireland finished the third quarter strongly. A bit of Joyce magic inspired a rally which deservedly earned them a 17 points lead (44/27) entering the last 20 minutes.

Things were looking good for a while until Hall kicked over an important three-pointer before David Wirpunnda and the influential Nathan Browne did likewise.

Once more the pressure was back on the visitors, only this time they were unable to respond. As in the opening test, they wasted some good possession at times, but Australia now enjoyed control and there was never any likelihood of them conceding their advantage.

It may have been no more than a moral victory for the Irish players, but, on a night when a 10-year agreement was announced pending approval by the AFL and the Central Council the occasion was almost more important than the result.

Scorers: Ireland S. McDonnell 18, B. McDonald 11, P. Joyce 6, A. Lynch, D. Dolan and B. Coulter 3 each, C. McManus and M. Freeman 2 each.

Australia N. Browne 10, B. Harvey 9, D. Wirrpunda 7, M. Pavlich, B. Hall and B. Johnson 4 each, R. Smith 3; A. Simpson, C. Johnson, S. Crawford and B. Kirk 1 each.

IRELAND: E. Murphy; P. Christie, G. Canty (capt.), S.M. Lockhart; T. Kelly, C. McAnallen, A. Lynch; K. McGeeney, C. McManus; O. O'Dwyer, P. Joyce, J. Higgins; B. McDonald, B. Coulter, S. McDonnell. Inter-change players: J. Bergin, K. Cassidy, S. Kelly, D. Dolan, T. Freeman, K. Hughes, S. Ryan, P. McGrane.

AUSTRALIA: G. Jacovich; J. Crouch, M. Carr, L. Power; R. Smith, L. Barry, C. Johnson; S. Crawford (capt.), A. Simpson; B. Johnson, M. Pavlich, B. Harvey, N. Browne, B. Hall, D. Wells. Inter-change players: C. Bizzell, L. Hayes, J. Rawlings, D. Wirrpunda, B. Kirk, P. Hasleby, R. Murphy.

Referees: B. White (Ireland) and S. McBurney (Australia).

*Attendance: 60,235.