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One of the few positives Australia could take away from their International Rules series thumping was that they had seen the last of Irish inspiration Tadhg Kennelly.
But the Australians may not even be able to cling to that after the ex-Sydney AFL premiership player left the door ajar to a return.
Kennelly was named Ireland’s player of the series after the visitors sealed a 2-0 sweep with a 21-point victory in a sometimes spiteful clash on the Gold Coast on Friday night.
Still buzzing from their record 44-point game one victory in Melbourne, Ireland ensured the aggressive hosts made another entry in the history books when they were limited to the lowest total in series history – 0.7.8 (29).
Australia will at least get some respite when the series takes a break for a year before resuming in 2013 – but they may yet be tormented again by Kennelly.
The only player to have claimed premierships in both the AFL and Gaelic football, Kennelly, 30, said he would travel the world while contemplating his playing future.
But it seems the playing bug will be hard to kill off.
“I remember singing the national anthem and I was welling up a bit (on Friday night),” said Kennelly, who retired from AFL this season after 197 games for the Swans.
“I was squeezing the shit out of (teammate) Tommy Walsh during the national anthem.
“I’ve played six series and I’m a very, very passionate person.
“(And) I saw the Irish rugby team beat Australia (in the recent World Cup) and the impact it had.
“It’s very difficult times at home and it’s something we talked about, trying to get a bit of pride into the people of Ireland and give them a bit of happiness.
“To have that pride in the people that come from their counties and clubs.”
Irish coach Anthony Tohill had already made up his mind about Kennelly’s future after basking in the series victory.
“If Tadgh Kennelly can put on that level of performance in this game at international level, I’m not sure why he’s retiring,” he said.
“Maybe his phone will be hopping over the next few days with other clubs trying to gain his services.
“He’s a wonderful guy to have around the place, a great inspiration to the younger players and I would have thought another AFL club would have been snapping him up rather than letting him swan off into retirement – I think he’s too young for that yet.”
If Kennelly does hang up the boots, he will remember his finale fondly.
He had 18 telling touches and kicked a three point “over” to help Ireland hold aloft the Cormac McAnallen trophy for the eighth time in the 16-series history, but just the third in the last eight.
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