Coaches confident of series’ future

WHEN the International Rules series ground to ahalt in Croke Park on Saturday night, it radiated a healthy glow.

The portents for such a positive outcome appeared bleak on several occasions over the previous seven days.

The Australians had decamped to Ireland and mastered the art of the round ball to produce fluid passages of play that suggested something of a chasm between themselves and their hosts.

When Carlton’s Eddie Betts popped his shot over the bar in the 49th minute of Saturday’s second test, he propelled his team into a 45-28 lead. In the overall series Mick Malthouse’s men had a foreboding cushion of 24 points, and while the International Rules had been crippled in the past by violent conflict and cashflow constraints, it now looked like being hit by a new scourge - lobsidedness.

Then something stirred. Ireland’s comeback in the Gaelic Grounds had been uplifting but this was a revival of a grander scale. James Kavanagh’s 50th minute goal kick-started matters and ten points adrift entering the final quarter, Ireland chipped away at Australia’s lead. When Michael Murphy swung a couple of outstanding overs, he sent a frisson of excitement around the ground as Ireland moved into an improbable 52-48 lead. Briefly, the prospect of winning the series materialised but Australia quickly dashed those hopes with a late scoring splurge.

Still there was a bigger picture at play here. The disappointment was etched onto Anthony Tohill’s face when he slumped into a chair underneath the Hogan Stand afterwards. Yet, as he contemplated the appalling vista that had faced his team (and the Series) at one point, Tohill’s pragmatism surfaced.

“Where would we have gone had we not shown we could compete with that Australian team? We would’ve had to maybe take the tackle out of the game to make it more even! You have to credit our fellas - they were gone out of both games and they came back to show great heart. They showed what an honour it is for them to play for Ireland and to wear the jersey.”

The International Rules is a curious spectacle for many reasons, not least because the objectives of entertaining fans and securing results are of equal importance. Ireland’s storming riposte at the finale ensured the 61,842 punters trooped out into the night satisfied that they had got bang for their buck.

“We’re in the business of winning matches, but I’m sure you all found at least the second half you got some entertainment value out of it,” admitted Tohill. “A lot of the Irish fans are disappointed but it was important there was entertainment value for them. I think the series is on a solid footing and the most important thing was that it was played in a sporting manner. It has a good future.”

Their opponents sung from the same hymn sheet. Mick Malthouse has enjoyed a season of distinction in his nine to five job in Melbourne, steering Collingwood to a Grand Final triumph in September. Acquiring the Cormac McAnallen trophy applies the coup the grace to his year.

“I feel tremendously proud,” he said. “When the Irish won that Series in 2008, I was very proud to be the coach of the Australian side. It was a demonstration of how much it meant to the Irish and how much it should have meant to us had we won. But we didn’t win. I won’t name the player, but a young man said to me: ‘That was right up there with a Premiership.’ I thought: ‘Yeah, but this time you are representing your country.’ That means so much.”

The figurehead of the Australian triumph on the pitch was Dane Swan. The Collingwood player has been under the tutelage of Malthouse all year and the 24-year-old has benefited with a glut of successes. He departed with the title of best Australian and recognised the significance of being bestowed with the Jim Stynes medal.

“Obviously it means a lot. Jim Stynes is a hero in both Australia and Ireland, and I’m very humbled and also very honoured. I absolutely enjoyed playing and hopefully I’ll get a chance again in another couple of years.”

It will be 2013 before Swan gets the opportunity to return to these shores to ply his trade and the gap is a source of regret for Malthouse.

“I’m not saying that just for a headline - all I’m saying is that it would be great for the players. Clearly, for some reason it’s not practical, but you only have to look at the crowd that came to Croke Park. There wasn’t one player from our group who didn’t bust his gut for our country and I think that says it all.”