Ireland win game, but Aussies win overall

Ireland won the game, but Australia scored their first International Rules Series win on home soil.

A 60-000-strong crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed a thrilling spectacle as the Irish just failed to overhaul a 10 points deficit from the first Test in Perth.

In the end, Gary Lyon's side had seven points to spare overall, thanks chiefly to a storming final quarter, when they came from 17 points behind to lose narrowly by three on the day.

The tourists forged into an 18 points lead at the end of the opening segment, with Steven McDonnell shooting accurately for three-pointers and punching home a goal (6pts) in the ninth minute.

In dreadful weather conditions, the Aussies found it difficult to handle the greasy round ball, and it was John O'Keefe's side which looked more composed in possession.

Brian McDonald rifled home a brilliant second goal on 12 minutes to put Ireland firmly in control, before David Wirrapunda hit Australia's only over of the quarter.

It was 22-4 at the first interval, but Australia got to grips with their opponents to shoot three-pointers through Brent Harvey, Rohan Smith and Shane Crawford in the second quarter.

Dessie Dolan and Padraig Joyce responded, to leave the Irish ahead by 30-15 at the interval, and leading the series by five points.

Aussie staying power was always going to be crucial, and while they were the early masters of the third quarter, they had to withstand a furious backlash from their opponents as the game approached the three-quarter stage.

Harvey drilled a penalty to the net, but after Pavlich had reduced the margin to a manageable six, Ireland had scores from McDonnell and Anthony Lynch, whose delicate chip just cleared the crossbar.

Australia trailed by 44-27 as they prepared to start the decisive final quarter, and by seven points overall, but they turned on the power to punish the tiring amateurs from the Gaelic code.

Barry Hall, held scoreless for an hour by Graham Canty, finally hit the target, and Wirrapunda levelled the series at 44-34.

McDonnell did edge the Irish back in front, but late scores from Brown, Hall and Brent Kirk clinched it for the AFL stars.