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Australia regained the Cormac McAnallen trophy with a three-point win in the second and final match of the International Rules series in Dublin on Saturday night.
The 0.14.13 (55) to 1.11.13 (52) victory at Croke Park handed Australia a 2-0 series win following the seven-point victory in the opener in Limerick last weekend.
The Irish again produced a storming finish with 14 unanswered points in the final term in front of 61,000 fans before the tourists steadied on a cool, clear night.
Dane Swan was named player of the series for the Australian side, the Collingwood midfielder outstanding just four weeks after lifting the AFL premiership trophy for the Magpies.
Both sides made changes to their teams with Geelong speedsters David Wojcinski and Travis Varcoe in for Australia and Ireland adding the influential Benny Coulter and Michael Shields.
After the dangerous Bernard Brogan put the home team in front with an over in the second minute, the Australians settled and opened up a seven-point lead at the first break.
The second term was much more lively with the Irish trying to throw their weight around before being penalised for having 16 players on the pitch, one more than allowed.
Former Collingwood player Marty Clarke was made to leave the pitch but the more spirited showing from the locals failed to rattle the Australians.
Goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher continued to pull the tourists out of some tight spots, the Bombers backman just getting his long arms to a ball with Daniel Goulding baring down on him.
Australia opened up an 11-point advantage at the main break and the tourists had their chances to bury the home side in the third term but James Kavanagh’s goal in the 14th minute brought the home crowd to life.
Fletcher was blocked off the ball and Kavanagh booted off the deck for the much-needed six-pointer but Australia still held a ten-point edge heading into the final term.
The Irish pressed in the final term and with deafening chants of ‘Ireland, Ireland’ from the crowd, Daniel Goulding booted the home side into the lead with an over with less than ten minutes to play.
Michael Murphy stretched the lead to four points but Australia managed to respond with Swan and Brad Green kicking overs before a thrilling finish.
With just seconds to go it looked like a Fletcher fumble could cost Australia the game but he managed to scramble back into goal and save a low shot.
Last week the AFL and Gaelic Athletic Association agreed for the 2011 series to be held in Australia with matches on October 21 and 28.
The series is then due for a break in 2012 before recommencing in 2013 in Ireland and 2014 in Australia.
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