Lockhart: Ireland need goals to rule the series
Ireland hold a one point lead from the opening clash in Perth and Ireland’s official runner Lockhart, the most capped Irish player in the history of the series with 16 appearances since 1998 last night laid it on the line for Sean Boylan’s team.
“Goals can make a massive difference in this game,” he said. “It’s not part of their game — they are used to taking overs. It is a worry for us that they did attain more marks inside the scoring zone than our forwards. But our forwards scored three goals and created another two or three chances.
“Granted, they probably have a higher level of fitness and a high level of power and strength, but that can only serve them a certain while.
“We created more chances than them. We were more clinical, whereas a lot of their shots were hit into (goalkeeper) David Gallagher’s hands.”
Lockhart revealed that Ireland have learned much from Friday’s experience. Australia led just once and that was for a brief period approaching half time before Ireland had a point belatedly put on the scoreboard.
Much more noteworthy, they lost leads of 14 and 17 points, early in the second and final quarters respectively. More alarmingly for players and management, they didn’t score after going 45/28 clear in that fourth period.
“There is room for improvement. There were some tremendous performances from the like of Leighton Glynn, Finian Hanley and Ciaran McKeever. I reckon that if we play more Gaelic football they won’t be able to stay with us,’’ he said.
Fitness levels on the Irish side are close to being comparable, but the compromise the home players make in playing with the round ball is negated by their professionalism, expertise in tackling and the inter-changing of players. But given the quality of players in the Irish squad and the potential for a much higher level of performance overall, Boylan should be the happier man at the final whistle.
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