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.

However, with the home side now facing a virtually unassailable lead heading to the Gold Coast for the second test on Friday and interest in the game in Australia waning at a rate of knots, it remains to be seen whether it can go on.

Yesterday’s crowd was the second worst since the revival of the International Rules in 1998, a close second to the 22,000 who attended the first test in Croke Park that year, and almost 20,000 down on the last series game in Melbourne three years ago.

Factoring in that game 13 years ago was the first in eight years, serious questions now have to be asked about the initiative.

After producing such a resoundingly good performance, none of the Ireland camp will be looking for it to be scrapped.

Taking lessons from last year’s series defeat, Ireland were successful in kicking the ball more and better, while they also benefited from facing a team most of whom had no experience at this level.

What also aided them was just how much the Australians stood off their markers but then Ireland’s determination to keep things flowing as much as possible seemed to take them by surprise.

On paper, and given how many of Anthony Tohill’s side had played this game to the handful on the opposition’s side, it was a mismatch and so it was suggested on the field of play early on as Ireland racked up an 18-point lead by the end of the first quarter, 22-4.

Pearse Hanley, who was otherwise superb, was guilty of the only behind as the visitors booted seven overs, demonstrating none of the erratic shooting that had cost them so dearly in Limerick and Dublin 12 months ago.

Tadhg Kennelly, playing what is possibly his penultimate competitive game, exploded into the affair, combining well with Tommy Walsh with the Kerry pair grabbing overs before the first hooter.

Ireland’s first goal came from an excellent Eamonn Callaghan kick-through to Michael Murphy whose finish was deftly struck as his run towards Matt Suckling’s goal was menacing.

Stephen Milne provided Australia’s only over of the first 18 minutes as Rodney Eade’s side were guilty of some embarrassing shots at goal.

With two behinds either side of a Kevin McKernan over, Ireland could have started the next quarter better but the last of those lesser scores — Darren Hughes’ in the seventh minute of the period — turned out to be their final one of the game.

The industrious Callaghan’s anticipatory skills saw him grab Ireland’s second goal when Suckling misjudged the ball when duelling with Steven McDonnell, leaving the Kildare man to lob delightfully into a baying net.

The sides then exchanged a couple of overs before Ireland captain Stephen Cluxton calamitously attempted to kick a ball over his shoulder across his goal to Neil McGee only for the ball to finish with Brad Green scuffing it past the goal-line.

A McDonnell over stretched Ireland’s lead to six at the half-time interval — 44-20 — and any fears of an Australian fightback were put paid to when they failed to register an over until the dying minute of the third quarter.

Before that, Michael Murphy, Walsh, Donaghy, Glynn and McKernan had fired overs with Emmet Bolton’s injury the only sour note in that period.

Going into the final quarter 59-26 ahead, Ireland, in just 54 minutes, had improved on their previous seven test final scores.

After taking a Murphy pass, Glynn’s exquisite finish for a third goal with 14 minutes left was a perfect riposte to Milne’s second over which had opened the quarter.

Donaghy followed up with an over and then McDonnell repeated his trick of the 2008 first test and struck home after initially struggling to gather Murphy’s pass.

The Armagh captain tagged on an over and ended up Ireland’s top scorer.

He was but one of several players who gave star turns on what was a splendid evening for Ireland but maybe not the game they were playing.

Scorers for Ireland: S McDonnell 18 (1-4-0), M Murphy, L Glynn 12 each (1-2-0), T Walsh 9 (0-3-0), K Donaghy, K McKernan 7 each (0-2-1), E Callaghan 6 (1-0-0), T Kennelly, B Murphy 3 each (0-1-0), P Hanley, D Hughes, Z Tuohy 1 each (0-0-1).

Inter-change: 3 E Bolton (Kildare), 4 E Cadogan (Cork), 5. E Callaghan (Kildare), 11 D Hughes (Tyrone), 13 P Kelly (Cork), 22 B Murphy (Carlow), 27 K Reilly (Meath), 30 A Walsh (Cork).

Scorers for Australia: B Green 11 (1-1-2), S Milne 6 (0-2-0), M Robinson, R Douglas 4 each (0-1-1), R Nahas, R Gray, A Monfries 3 each (0-1-0), M Nicoski 2 (0-0-2).

Inter-change: 3 L Shiels, 7 M Nicoski, 10 J Trengove, 13 T McKenzie, 14 C Ward, 15 R Gray, 26 R Douglas, 44 S Milne.

Referees: D Coldrick (Meath), R Chamberlain (Australia).