Rules star McManus says Perth loss was pivotal

Ciaran McManus reflected on Ireland's International Rules aggregate defeat and admitted that the 10-point opening day loss in Perth was the key.

Despite leading by 17 points at the end of the third quarter during this morning's decider in Melbourne, Ireland could only grind out a three-point win that meant an overall seven point loss.

McManus said: "Inexperience in the first test cost us dearly and left us with a very difficult task on our hands for the second test.

"We won the second test but there were no medals and that's what counts. All the damage was done the first day."

The big Offaly midfielder added: "I feel very sorry for John O'Keeffe because this is two years in a row that we've not delivered for him. He's put everything into the International Rules series."