Australia make their mark but lose the series

Australia 65 Ireland 30

In Galway a couple of weeks ago, Ireland won the opener in the three-game U-17 Compromise Rules rubber, but the Aussies looked set to even it all up in Croke Park last Sunday, until someone discovered the visitors had an extra man on the pitch.

Australia’s 60-plus score to that point was wiped out, as was their 30-point lead, so that starting from scratch again, they had no chance. Ireland ran out easy if undeserved winners, giving then an unassailable 2-0 series lead, which left yesterday’s encounter a pride-only game.

Just as well for Ireland, because they were outclassed. The visitors had a number of towering targets up front, all of whom they used to great effect.

Had their shooting been near the quality of their ‘marks’, Australia’s tally might have gone into three figures.

For the under-pressure Irish, wing-forward Brian Moran caught the eye, as did Darragh Egan, but for the most part they played second-fiddle.

Scorers for Australia: T. Chaplin 16 (1-3-1); S. Butler 11 (1-1-2); B. Stanton 10 (0-2-4); M. Hodge, J. Willoughby, 6 each (0-2-0); B. McLean, D. McConnell, A. Walker, 4 each (0-1-1); R. Tambling, T. Schmidt, F. Ray, B. Hall, 1 each (0-0-1).

Ireland: B. Moran 7 (0-2-1); D. Egan 6 (0-2-0); C. Vernon 4 (0-1-1); F. Goold, I. Fleming, P. Kerrigan, 3 each (0-1-0); A. Hanley, D. Culloty, D. Barrett, S. Hogan, 1 each (0-0-1).

AUSTRALIA: C. Stewart; D. Trotter, P. Richardson, B. Sharp; S. Garrubba, D. McConnell, C. Johnson; J. Willoughby, T. Schmidt; B. McLean, T. Chaplin, B. Stanton; M. Hodge, B. Morrison, R. Tambling.

Subs: L. Peel, A. Walker, I. Thompson, A. McQualter, F. Ray, P. Richardson, S. Butler, B. Hall.

IRELAND: SP Henry; P. O’Reilly, S. Prendergast, L. Quinn; A. Hanley, C. Vernon, D. Culloty; C. Hughes, M. Lynch; B. Moran, F. Goold, D. Barrett; S. Hogan, D. Egan, B. Faherty.

Subs: G. Bradshaw, P. Kearney, I. Fleming, S. Greham, P. Kerrigan, S. McCarthy, M. McCormack, J. O’Brien, J. O’Sullivan.

Referees: D. Scully (Australia); D. Coldrick (Ireland).