The green machine

Ireland 77 (3-17-8) Australia 41 (1-9-8)

He promised his team would concentrate on kicking bread-and-butter three pointers in yesterday’s opening test in the Coca-Cola International Rules Series in Croke Park and they duly delivered.

In a game where the home team produced its highest standard over the last two years and Australia showing a corresponding drop in their level of performance, the margin of victory was the widest in the 25 test games played over the past two decades.