We can’t afford another blowout, warns Zach Tuohy

Zach Tuohy says Ireland can’t afford to dwell too much on ensuring Australia don’t enjoy as strong a third quarter tomorrow as they did last Sunday.

Ireland were outscored 22-8 in that 18-minute period, which is traditionally a purple patch for the AFL team. Two years ago in Croke Park, Australia won the “championship quarter” 16 points to seven.

It’s a factor, the Laois man readily accepts, but Ireland will be looking for a performance across the entire 72 minutes. “You’d love to win every quarter. You can’t afford any blowouts in any quarter. We addressed it. We know what we did wrong and hopefully it won’t happen again. It (third quarter) will be a focus but no more than the first or second or fourth.