Advantage Ireland as Aussies fail to shine

Ireland 77 Australia 41

Ireland take a commanding 36-point lead into next weekend’s second Test following their resounding International Rules win over Australia.

The AFL professionals, going for a third series win on the trot, looked a pale shadow of the side that scored a convincing win over the amateur footballers from the GAA down under last year.

Ireland, with Padraig Joyce, Sean Óg Ó hAilpín, Ciarán McManus and Benny Coulter in sparkling form, were too slick and skilful for their struggling opponents, always able to break tackles and execute scores with ease.

A crowd of 46,370 at Croke Park watched a mismatch, with Australia never threatening to deliver, and outscored in all four quarters.

Ireland, moving the ball accurately and quickly from defence, ran the Aussies ragged in a dominant opening quarter, scoring nine times from 10 attempts.

Dessie Dolan and Benny Coulter displayed extreme accuracy in taking marks and floating overs between the posts as Pete McGrath’s side built up a commanding lead.

When Coulter sent Steven McDonnell through for a 14th minute goal, the tourists trailed by 25 points to two.

Nathan Brown hit their only three-pointer of the segment, and after Joe Bergin had raced through unopposed to add to the Irish tally, it was 28-5 at the first break.

Ireland stretched their lead through Mattie Forde and McDonnell, before Forde drilled home a second goal in the 32nd minute to open up a 32-point advantage.

Luke Ball and Adam McPhee were on target for Australia, but their challenge was showing no sign of sparking to life, the home side dominant in every area.

Australia were strangely hesitant in making tackles and allowed their opponents too much space and time on the ball.

Ireland led by 43-13 at half-time, and the Australians finally started to show some appetite for the contest, Nathan Brown blasting home a goal from Nick Riewoldt’s pass.

James Hird showed the leadership his side had been lacking in the opening 40 minutes, and hit three excellent overs as the deficit was cut to 20 points, but Ireland broke away for Joyce to drill home a goal from Dolan’s precision pass.

There were more goal chances for the Irish, but Sean Cavanagh rattled the crossbar and Paul Galvin sliced his shot wide when sent clear by Coulter.

Ireland had rediscovered their rythmn, and with a 57-31 advantage going into the final quarter, they were well on their way to first Test victory.

Brogan and Tom Kelly stretched the advantage still further, and even when Jason Johnson and Joel Bowden pulled back scores, Ireland’s own Aussie Rules star, Tadhg Kennelly of Sydney Swans, booted over two glorious long range scores to maintain his side’s dominance.

In the end, it was a landslide, the series all but secured even before a ball is kicked in next Sunday’s second Test.