First blood to rampant Irish

FEW International Rules tests have broken more records than this latest offering but the future of the series is again up for question after a decidedly one-sided match.

With just 22,921 watching on in the Etihad Stadium, it was almost as if the Melbourne public knew what was in store.

Not everything can be taken away from the poise and prowess shown by Ireland as they well and truly made up for last year’s disappointment on home soil. Their 44-point margin of victory beat the previous one set by Australia in the 2006 second test in Croke Park when a difference of 38 stood between themselves and Ireland.