ALTHOUGH there was almost a dramatic twist at the tail, this ended up being a twist on an old tale – the Irish hare beat the Australian tortoise.
There’s no slight intended on the visitors – the ‘tortoise’ was leaping like a kangaroo in the second half, but Ireland had done just enough before that to deservedly edge this match.
Having learned their lesson from their slow start in Perth last year, Ireland burst out of the blocks and effectively won this test by half-time, scoring more than three-quarters of their total in the first two quarters, including two goals from Aidan O’Shea and a penalty netted by Conor McManus.
In contrast, the Aussies were steady scorers throughout, notching 13 in both the first and last quarters, with even the third/’moving’ quarter only bringing a return of 16.
That still set up an intriguing finale, a final quarter which became even more interesting when Eddie Betts netted Australia’s only goal to leave just six between the sides with six minutes remaining.
The visitors quickly halved that deficit but Ireland held their nerve, and held onto the football enough with some smart kick-passing, before skipper Bernard Brogan had the final say and the final score, albeit with a ‘behind’.
That was a rare moment of inaccuracy from the hosts, who exhibited a high standard of shooting, especially in the first half.
Notably the Allstar full-forward line of Brogan, O’Shea, and McManus was doing the damage, and that trio ended up with 45 in total between, 3-8-3 in Rules scoring.
Although O’Shea and McManus ended up outscoring him, Brogan was causing serious problems with his movement, kicking accuracy, and link play. Indeed at half-time in the press area one visiting journalist was heard declaring to a colleague: “Gotta stop that number four, Darce!”
Australia largely did that from then on, by tactical means, sending veteran Dustin Fletcher out from his goals to operate as a ‘sweeper-keeper’ and pick up the Irish captain when the ball came his way.
Both sides were on their best behaviour though, with barely any ill-discipline or bad temper, and GAA President Aogan O Fearghail was happy to tell the crowd afterwards: “This series is very safe, we look forward to renewing it next year.”
The Cavan man was even happier to declare “Tonight belongs to Ireland” and to praise Ireland boss Joe Kernan, pointing out that he’s become the first man to lead his club, county, province, and now country to top honours.
The teams’ scores were very close to what both countries had averaged over the previous 39 tests, but this was definitely an above average encounter.
Although Australia opened the scoring with a good over from Robbie Gray, Ireland responded in perfect fashion, O’Shea netting after Brogan had challenged for a clever cross-field kick-pass by Diarmuid Connolly. The latter soon added an over, as did Conor McManus, then O’Shea, then Brogan – and Ireland were flying, leading 20 to 6 in the 12th minute.
Australia, unsurprisingly, battled back and indeed Ireland needed goalkeeper Niall Morgan’s right foot to divert a goal-bound shot from Jake Stringer behind as the hooter beckoned, which score left the hosts 21-13 up.
The Antipodeans tried to turn things around very quickly in the second quarter, throwing players forward, and soon cut the gap in half, but the wind was taken out of their sails by a second Irish goal, again from O’Shea.
Brogan was once more involved, his shot parried out by Fletcher, with O’Shea following up to find the net.
Bernard’s brilliance continued with a couple of overs before he picked out Donegal’s Patrick McBrearty, who bravely palmed in a split-second before a defender’s challenge sent him crashing into the right-hand post.
However, a penalty had been awarded, so instead McManus got a goal, coolly converting from the spot.
Australia struggled to respond, with the ever-alert Niall Morgan denying them first a behind, then a goal in the same attack.
Ireland’s excellent second quarter ended with Lee Keegan drilling the ball over the bar from distance for a 20-point advantage, 43-23.
The Australians came back out onto the pitch early for the second half/ third quarter and their intent had its effect. Five-time All-Australian Nick Riewoldt was pushed up to full-forward and used his 6’4” height superbly. Australia’s more direct play brought them five overs and a behind, with the St Kilda man scoring seven points himself.
Ireland’s only scores came from Monaghan men, McManus with a behind and an over, the latter set up by a burst from Darren Hughes, who then put the ball over the bar himself following a fine catch.
Australia had reduced the gap by nine to 11, 50-39 the score, and home nerves began to jangle.
Realistically the Aussies probably still needed a goal, but a great tackle by Kildare’s Eoin Doyle denied Mundy after a defensive mix-up.
Stringer then spurned another goal chance, first hesitating then hand-passing across the square, as the game began to really open up.
Connolly tried to chip a back-pedalling Fletcher, who then beat out a Brogan shot only as far as McManus, whose fierce shot flew over off the cross-bar.
A Connolly behind put Ireland 12 up, 55-43, with just over six minutes left, but at last Australia breached the home rearguard, Betts rising amazingly to palm in a kick across from Gaff.
When Robbie Gray barged Peter Harte aside to score his second over of the quarter only three points separated the sides. Clare’s Gary Brennan took some great defensive catches, and Philly McMahon – who had been mostly operating around midfield – dropped deeper to help out, but Ireland weren’t sitting back.
A Harte interception created yet another goal chance for Brogan, but Fletcher wrapped him up to prevent a score. However, fittingly it was the inspirational captain Brogan who wrapped up the win, kicking a behind from an O’Shea pass.
Whether you viewed the stadium as ‘half-full’ or ‘half-empty’, it would be hard to deny that this was entertaining fare, played in the right spirit. Ireland took the victory, but the International Rules concept was a winner too.
Best for Ireland
Niall Morgan had an excellent evening but the choice must be between skipper Bernard Brogan and Aidan O’Shea. The latter netted two goals, both times with Brogan involved, and kicked a superb over. He dropped deeper as the game went on but gave some possession away.
Brogan could have had several goals himself, thanks to his intelligent, incessant movement, but he did play a part in all three Irish major scores.
He also kicked four overs, off both feet, and was prevented from finding the net on several occasions by Duncan Fletcher desperately spreading himself in front of the Dublin star.
The Australians even took the gamble of sending their goalkeeper out to pick up Brogan in an effort to reduce his influence.
Best for Australia
Nick Riewoldt was a contender with three overs, particularly when causing serious problems at ‘full-forward’, notably in the third quarter – but Eddie Betts constantly caught the eye, scoring in every quarter, and regularly getting on the ball to make things happen.
Although he’s not a big man, at only 5’8”, he put in a big performance. Notably the Adelaide Crow flew up, soaring above much taller men from both sides, to palm in Australia’s goal towards the end and set up an extremely exciting finish. He also kicked two overs and two behinds.
Match Stats
Ireland: N Morgan (Tyrone); E Doyle (Kildare), G Brennan (Clare), R O’Carroll (Dublin); L Keegan (Mayo) (0-1-0, 3), E Cadogan (Cork), J McCaffrey (Dublin); P McMahon (Dublin), M Quinn (Longford); M Donnelly (Tyrone), D Connolly (Dublin) (0-1-1, 4), D Walsh (Kerry); C McManus (Monaghan) (1-3-2, 17), A O’Shea (Mayo) (2-1-0, 15), B Brogan (Dublin, capt.) (0-4-1, 13).
Inter-change: C Begley (Laois), P Harte (Tyrone), D Hughes (Monaghan) (0-1-0, 3), P Kerrigan (Cork) (0-0-1, 1), C McDonald (Tipperary), J O’Loughlin (Laois), P Cribbin (Kildare), P McBrearty (Donegal).
Top scorers: Conor McManus 17, Aidan O’Shea 15, Bernard Brogan 13
Australia: D Fletcher (Essendon); S Mitchell (Hawthorn), L Hodge (Hawthorn, capt.), L Montagna (St Kilda) (0-1-0, 3); R Murphy (Western Bulldogs), H Taylor (Geelong), B Goddard (Essendon); E Wood (Western Bulldogs), E Betts (Adelaide) (1-2-2, 14); P Dangerfield (Geelong), N Riewoldt (St Kilda) (0-3-1, 10), D Mundy (Fremantle) (0-1-0, 3); R Gray (Port Adelaide) (0-3-1, 10), J Roughead (Hawthorn) (0-1-0, 3), H Ballantyne (Fremantle) (0-1-0, 3).
Inter-change: A Gaff (West Coast), J Stringer (Western Bulldogs) (0-0-1, 1), T Rockliff (Brisbane Lions) (0-0-1, 1), L Breust (Hawthorn) (0-1-1, 4), D Heppell (Essendon), G Birchall (Hawthorn), N Smith (Sydney Swans).
Top scorers: Eddie Betts 14, Nick Riewoldt 10, Robbie Gray 10
Referees: Joe McQuillan (Ireland) and Mathew Nicholls (Australia).
Attendance: 38,386.
Quarter by quarter
1st: Ireland 21 (1-5-0) Australia 13 (0-4-1) 2nd: Ireland 43 (3-8-1) Australia 23 (0-6-5) 3rd: Ireland 50 (3-10-2) Australia 39 (0-11-6) 4th: Ireland 56 (3-11-5) Australia 52 (1-13-7)
Scores per quarter
1st: Ireland 21 (1-5-0) Australia 13 (0-4-1) 2nd Ireland 22 (2-3-1) Australia 10 (0-2-4) 3rd: Ireland 7 (0-2-1) Australia 16 (0-5-1) 4th: Ireland 6 (0-1-3) Australia 13 (1-2-1)
