Ireland withstood a late charge from Australia to win last night’s second International Rules Test by four points at the MCG. The tourists also reclaimed the Cormac McAnellen Cup for the first time since 2004 after winning last Friday night’s Test in Perth by a point.
Drew Petrie scored a six-point goal with two minutes left to bring the home side within reach of an unlikely win, but the Irish held on to win 4.8.9 (57) to 3.8.11 (53).
There is little doubt the series will continue next year in Ireland, with no major physical clashes during the game.
On-field violence during the 2005 and ’06 series meant a cancellation last year and the matches only resumed after a series of negotiations between the AFL and Gaelic Athletic Association.
The two sides went out of their way to play the series in the right spirit.
Ireland’s triumph on this tour meant the series are tied at five-all since resuming in 1998.
Petrie also scored two three-point overs at the start of the final quarter before a goal to Shaun Burgoyne as the Australians made their late charge, but the Irish deserved to win.
Benny Coulter’s second goal late in the last term steadied Ireland, giving them a crucial buffer.
Australian Kade Simpson and Ireland’s Graham Canty were judged the series’ top players.
Irish captain Sean Cavanagh, the top scorer last night with four goals, and big forward Kieran Donaghy were also outstanding.
The match was played in wet conditions and the weather undoubtedly affected the crowd size.
The AFL had hoped for 50,000-plus, but only 42,823 attended after the rain came a couple of hours before the start of play.
Australia did most of the attacking early and kicked four of the first five overs to lead by nine points.
But Cavanagh kicked two overs late, giving him three for the quarter and reducing the margin to three points.
The Irish then smashed the home side in the second term as Donaghy and Enda McGinley scored goals.
Ireland blew the margin out to 18 points before Michael Osborne scored Australia’s only over of the quarter, reducing the deficit to 15 at half-time.
After Paddy Bradley’s over at the start of the third term again took the margin out to 18, Australia pressed as they sensed the game was almost out of their reach.
Australia created a two-on-one scramble deep in attack and Marc Murphy knocked through the home side’s first goal of the series.
That brought Australia back to within six points and the game was alive again.
Coulter then scored a controversial goal, as Australian Matthew Boyd was dragged off the ball just before the score and should have received a free.
An over to Donaghy meant the Irish again led by 17 at the last change.
Simpson won the Jim Stynes Medal for the player of the series and Canty was voted the top Irish player.
After Nathan Bock had the crucial goalkeeping role for Australia in game one, Michael Firrito took the thankless job last night, with mixed results.
While he made a couple of saves, Firrito certainly looked like a man who was in the role for the first time.
It was a particularly-emotional series win for the Irish, given the cup is named after McAnallen.
He played for Ireland from 2001-03 but died unexpectedly in early 2004 and was a good friend of Cavanagh’s.
Overall, the two sides were most pleased that the series’ future is assured.
Campbell Brown’s yellow card in the first Test was the only player send-off.
“(The series was) played thankfully within the spirit of what sport should be, when you have two international sides who are in what we call a strange, I suppose, competition,” said Australian coach Mick Malthouse.
“You only have to look at the way the Irish celebrated to know what it meant.
“If you’re talking about the game itself, we tended to make too many errors with the slippery ball.
“I congratulated them (the Australian team) on the very fact that if there’s going to be further series and it’s played with the same commitment to excellence and sportsmanship, it’s got a life and it’ll last for a long time.”
Michael C
Guest
Dave - true- part of the media approach was to not print anything, but, there were a few articles out there blatantly negative and anti the whole concept. That's annoying - and it happens in Ireland too, there are some 'traditionalists' outright against these games. It's ironic, that 20 odd years ago, the AFL boys were all mostly still working day jobs - when these series first began. Over the intervening years, the AFL has moved to full professionalism, whilst the GAA, I gather now, there's some likelihood that next year the players are going to receive a minimal return, but a return nonetheless. Kevin Sheedy likes to point out, that when the Australians are taking on the Irish in these games, that the Aussies are not being paid match payments - - I gather they all, on both sides, get some 'spending money', but, in effect - for these contests, both teams are 'amateur' by a loose measure!! For now - - let the rules favour the Irish if they need it - - because, for now, we (Aust and the AFL) are in the box seat as the country to whom the players are 'attracted' to play professionally!! (maybe a little cynical, but - if that helps sustain cordial relations then, - - - - whatever it takes!!!!). At least, with the rule tinkering, they've ensured a contest - - and 1 and 4 pt margins, the Australians were just starting to master both skills and strategy towards the end of the 2nd game. Especially, that scoring an 'under' wasn't necessarily going to be due to taking a mark close to goal, but, more ensuring a ground level contest with a 'live' ball...........simply because the 'under' need NOT be kicked, and 'own' goal CAN be conceded. [elements I'm not at all in favour of - - - - I still reckon a kicking game should ONLY reward goals KICKED by the attacking team.]
Dave
Guest
MC Listening to a little on the radio this morning, taking son to exams, appears many AFL folk are concerned the rules favour the Irish too much...also from a non AFL persons view watching the game would think it is pretty much a game of Gaelic. No doubt the round ball, GK, goalnet etc turn off a few AFL people as well. There was plenty of media both electronic and print (in the Age). l havent seen much negative stuff although, perhaps by just not talking about it is being negative enough. Certainly from a neutral perspective the game seems a good one to watch. lt seems much like many classic rivalries in sport the underdog...Irish amateurs (vs AFL full time professionals) seem to take it more seriously. For a country used to be the underdog in so many situations maybe being the favorite constantly is a bit too much to take for many AFL supporters.
Michael C
Guest
Vee - that ruddy sphere is harder to grab cleanly, it doesn't have 'corners', otherwise, Thomas might have held that (and been able to claim ONE act beneficial to the team!!), and also Brennan's mighty 'ride' might've been rewarded. Dave - actually, that was '99 when we got over 64K to the MCG and 45K to AAMI - - that was a stunning result back then of 109.5K to the 2 matches. Since then, 2001 - MCG 48K and AAMI 31K (total 79K) 2003, Subi 41K and MCG 60K, a more than useful total of 101K. 2005 - Subi 39K and Telstra Dome 45K - total 84K this time around, Subi 35K and MCG 42K for a total of 77K. So, the lowest 'total' attendance yet. And, again, a whole lot of negative media from the media that should be building it up (if as some suggest that the AFL effectively 'owns' the MElbourne media - - hardly, the media just love taking pot shots and figure there's much more mileage in negative and possibly controversial headlines - - - the prophets of doom love then to 8 months later claim a foretelling victory by referring back to their headline - - - - perhaps media endeavouring for self fulfilling prophecies - - i.e. write it and it will be. crowd wise though, the weather certainly scared people off at both Subi and the 'G, so, not too great an issue there - - personally, early on I was concerned we'd be below 30K at the 'G, but, it built steadily through the first half and 42K was actually a very good final figure (and they were certainly there - - but very sparse in the AFL members area), whilst the GA areas of the Southern Stand were very well populated. Dave - - that's one annoyance, that the AFL members area is often sparse and is on the Southern Stand side that IS seen on TV. Also, remember, with the showers, that at any given time, the ground level deck had been evacuated as the 'hardy' (???) soles had pushed back under cover (actually, it WAS quite chilly when those showers came through). The rules - - -yeah, major compromising again via the 4 handballs limit, especially. But, we know it's a balanced handicap at all times to create a contest. The Irish absolutely love it, it'd be a shame for it not to continue, and it looks set now to kick on for the foreseeable future..............which is nice. Perhaps the whole ting (deliberate), it was nice. A bit like the 20/20 cricket internationals, it's hard to be heartbroken should we lose, but, you just go along for some entertainment. And that's not really a bad thing.
Veee
Guest
i so wanted the aussies to win but it wasn't meant to be after the game i couldn't really understand what the irish were saying so i just changed the channel until it was finished lol and i thought it was pretty cool when Dale Thomas did a fly but then he dropped it
Dave
Guest
MC Crowds down on the IC series from last time...the last MCG game was over 65,000 from memory and last night just over 40,000? There are tens of thousands of Irish living out here so would think they will be very disappointed with that. TV figures just over 400,000 so well down on even last week. Could it be that the AFL have caved in too much to the Irish and turned many off the concept? Crowd looked very thin on TV...but glad you enjoyed the game.
Michael C
Guest
It was a fair bit of fun to attend, again, the crowd tends to take about a half to work out the 'rhythym' of the game......i.e. to get in tune with it. The crowd early looked a bit light on, traditionally people come late for these games, and it built up nicely to over 40K. Again, there was a nice 'party' atmosphere, and an Irish lass who tried to rub it in that they beat us...........and, myself and my 2 mates had to admit that you could happily have her hang sh#t on you all night long!!!! (something about her accent removed any 'menace').
mtngry
Guest
Good on the amateurs, lets hope one day the games are televised before midnight.