International Rules second test: Ireland 67 Australia 56: (aggregate score 128–118. Ireland win series)
OVER, and out of sight Peter Canavan and Jarlath Fallon twisted the knife with two superb three-point plays during a terrific final burst as Ireland produced a tour-deforce finish to clinch the 1998 Coca Cola International Rules series against the Aussies.
Canavan’s artful dodger display was one of the key factors in the Irish turning around a 62 – 61 first test deficit.
He scored 16 points over the eighty minutes, which included a wonderful goal, while setting up flying Fallon for his six-point strike after 44 minutes.
A carnival crowd yesterday of 35,221 enjoyed every minute of a cracking game.
Ireland came into the arena knowing they required, under the compromise rules, a win by the minimum of two points to outfox the Australians on aggregate for the overall prize.
Colm O’Rourke’s players responded with grit, gameness and inspired football.
This was often based on the broad back of a defence which played outstandingly well, with Seamus Moynihan, Derry’s Sean Martin Lockhart and Glen Ryan among its star performers.
Ireland’s defence applied a feverish commitment to the tackle, and one aspect which really stood out was the ability of the Irish backs to compete with powerful Australian front runners Robert Harvey, Mark Ricciuto, Nathan Eagleston, Nick Holland and Anthony Stevens under the high ball.
Ireland: McConnell, Canavan (16), Tohill (3), Lockhart (4), McCabe, Fay, Nallen, Foley (2), Stynes (6), Moynihan, McDermott (1), Fallon (12), Buckley, Ryan, Cullen.
Inter-change players: Brewster, O’Domhnaill, Daley (4), Cavlan (3), Kenny (3), Parkinson, Donnellan (6), dePaor 7.
Australia: Silvagni, Lloyd (3), Buckley (4), Stevens (4), Crawford, Eagleton (7), Neitz, Camporeale (7), Carey, Smith, Campbell (2), Johnson (2), Ricciuto (7), Harvey (7), Wellman.
Inter-change players: Holland (8), Everitt, Stynes (3), Smart, Farmer, Campbell (2) Viney
Ref: Micheal Curley Ireland, Andrew Coates Australia.
Attendance: 35,221.
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Oireachtas Cup: Antrim 0-6 Waterford 1-23
Water torture for rudderless Saffron side
MANAGERLESS Antrim hadn’t trained since losing to Offaly in the All-Ireland quarter-finals 10 weeks ago.
It showed.
Waterford may have included only four men who had played against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final but they were laden with U21 and minor stars eager to impress team manager Gerald McCarthy.
That showed.
Sean McGuinness, who resigned as Antrim manager six or so weeks ago, could be easily picked out from the few hundred folk in the stand.
He watched a largely second-string Antrim outfit struggle against the quick-striking and superior skills of their opponents.
Antrim laboured for each of their six points and squandered a series of goal chances - including a late penalty miss - which would have put a more respectable look on the scoreboard.
Antrim: R Matthews, M McCambridge, Ciaran McCambridge, M Kettle, Ryan McNaughton, J Close, C Hamill, F McMullan, C Cunning, S Kelly (0-1), C McGuckian, J McIntosh, A Delargy (0-3), B McFall (0-2), P McMullan
Subs: J O’Neill for McIntosh h-t, A Rogan for McNaughton 36, P Donnelly for Kelly 44.
Waterford: A Robinson, E O’Sullivan, J O’Connor, G Breen, S Frampton, P Queally (0-1), E Burke, P Walsh, J Twomey (0-2), K Walsh, P Flynn (0-1), D Barrett (0-8), B O’Sullivan (0-5), M Molumphy (1-3), B Hannon (0-1)
Subs: F Hartley (0-2) for Flynn 50, T Carroll for K Walsh 50, T Flynn for Frampton 48.
Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).
