Australia claim 2005 Series and Cormac McAnallen Cup
Australia 63 (0-18-9) (163) Ireland 42 (0-11-9) (106), Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Australia comfortably claimed the 2005 International Rules Series and the Cormac McAnallen Cup in Melbourne today as Pete McGrath's Ireland side were soundly beaten 63-42 in front of 45,428 spectators at the Telstra Dome.
Adding to last week's Perth pummelling, it was a 57-point aggregate defeat for the Irish and a complete turnaround from 2004's 50-point win for McGrath's men.
Laois defender Tom Kelly was named Irish player of the Series after a bruising second Test which saw Aussie co-captain Chris Johnson red-carded in the second quarter for a reckless high-arm challenge on Tyrone's Philip Jordan.
Full report, scorers to follow...
AUSTRALIA: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) (co-capt), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Heath Black (Fremantle), Amon Buchanan (Sydney), Trent Croad (Hawthorn), Aaron Davey (Melbourne), Nick Davis (Sydney), Brett Deledio (Richmond), Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs), Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs), Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs), Shannon Grant (Kangaroos), Brent Harvey (Kangaroos), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Chris Johnson (Brisbane Lions) (co-capt), Matthew Lappin (Carlton), Andrew Lovett (Essendon), Troy Makepeace (Kangaroos), Darren Milburn (Geelong), Brent Moloney (Melbourne), Dale Morris (Western Bulldogs), Chris Newman (Richmond), Ryan O’Keefe (Sydney), Jarrad Waite (Richmond).
IRELAND: Mickey McVeigh (Down); Sean Og O’hAilpin (Cork), Tom Kelly (Laois), Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone); Philip Jordan (Tyrone), Bryan Cullen (Dublin), Anthony Lynch (Cork); Graham Canty (Cork), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone); Ross Munnelly (Laois), Benny Coulter (Down), Brian Dooher (Tyrone); Padraic Joyce (Galway) (capt), Ronan Clarke (Armagh), Dessie Dolan (Westmeath).
Inter-change: Colm Cooper (Kerry), Matty Forde (Wexford), David Heaney (Mayo), Sean Marty Lockhart (Derry), Ciaran McDonald (Mayo), Ciaran McManus (Offaly), Stephen O’Neill (Tyrone), Tomas O’Se (Kerry).
Referees: Mathew James (Australia), Michael Collins (Cork, Ireland)
