Australia have won the first International Rules Test against Ireland by a margin of ten points, but it has come at a cost to the Collingwood Football Club with Scott Pendlebury breaking a finger.
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Final score
Australia 2.13.12 (63)
Ireland 1.13.8 (53)
The International Rules Series returns to Australia for the first time since 2014 as a who’s who of the country’s greatest players takes on Ireland at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live coverage and all the action from 4:10pm (AEDT).
The hybrid game seemed to be dead in the water after a 2013 tour to Ireland saw a substandard Aussie line-up hammered from pillar to post in a humiliating defeat, but since changing the squad criteria, the series has seen a resurgence.
One-off games in 2014 and 2015, with Australia only choosing players who had been nominated for the All-Australian squad at some point in their careers, saw a pair of skillful, hard-fought contests, with the Aussies triumphing in Perth before the Irish took back the Cormac McAnallen Cup one year later.
The initial squad of 23 has been cut back to 21 following GWS star Toby Greene being ruled out with a broken toe and Gary Ablett’s withdrawal due to personal reasons, but with the likes of Eddie Betts, Patrick Dangerfield and Nat Fyfe still in the mix, there’s no question that the side is armed to the teeth with ability.
For most casual Australian fans, the names Zach Tuohy and Pearce Hanley will look familiar in the Ireland line-up, but while the rest are relatively unknown down under, they are still a formidable force.
Vice-captain and multiple All-Star recipient (the Gaelic football equivalent of an All-Australian gong) Conor McManus spearheads a strong squad of some of the code’s best and brightest, and while the Aussie players will all have one eye on the 2017 AFL season, the amateur status of the Irish game means this is the biggest day in their sporting careers for many of the Irish players.
And with nearly all of them holding a job outside of football due to the abysmally poor pay (many earn less than AUD$12,000 per year from the sport) the players receive, it’s just another reason to root for this band of bricklaying, welding and real estate-selling Davids against the Goliaths of Australian footy.
Prediction
Ireland’s record in these matches is very impressive, but Australia’s fortunes have greatly improved since they started actually taking selection policy seriously, and fans at the Adelaide Oval should be treated to a series-opening win for the hosts.
Australia to triumph by 21 points.
However, even a win for Ireland won’t necessarily be enough for them to retain the trophy, with the result being decided by the points tally at the end of the two games- so even if the result is beyond doubt in Game 1, every point will still count.
Can Australia take one step towards returning the Cormac McAnallen trophy to the southern hemisphere? Or will the Irish take down their more fancied opponents with a stirring win in enemy territory?
Tune into The Roar’s live coverage of the match from 4:10pm (AEDT), and don’t forget to leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Great to see him enjoying himself today and showing his abilities. Hoping to see him back to his best in 2018.
Don Freo
Guest
Fyfey!!!
13th Man
Guest
Go back to the soccer forum. It's a chance for these players to represent their country which they wouldn't get otherwise. Sure it might not be the most important games but it is still fun to watch and exciting for a footy fan such as myself to see all the best players playing together. I think it has value and should be persisted with.
Don Freo
Guest
You obviously followed it Eddie. That's because AFL is compelling. You tried not to watch it...but you did. ...unless you made this condemnation without actually watching and knowing (I wonder which).
Last Straw
Guest
Agree, Eddie. AFL is a waste of sporting talent and international rules is a complete waste of talent and money that could be better used to support sports that actually add value to Australia. If the players really wanted to test themselves on an international stage, perhaps they should try playing games that mean something internationally.
Tim Miller
Editor
That's it from me for this first Test. Australia take the first International Rules match at the Adelaide Oval with a 10-point win over Ireland. Thanks for tuning in! Australia 2.13.12 (63) defeated Ireland 1.13.8 (53) by 10 points at the Adelaide Oval. Goals Australia: Fyfe, Shuey. Ireland: M. Murphy. Overs Australia: Fyfe 3, Wingard 2, Brown 2, Zorko 2, Dangerfield, Hibberd, Betts, Ryder. Ireland: McManus 7, M Murphy 4, Sweeney, Geaney. Best Australia: Fyfe, Simpson, Hibberd, Goddard, Zorko. Ireland: McManus, M Murphy, Walsh, Tuohy, Geaney. Injuries Australia: Pendlebury (broken finger) Ireland: Nil
Tim Miller
Editor
Australia have drawn first blood in the International Rules Series, with a blistering third quarter proving the difference as the hosts were made to fight hard to shake off a plucky Ireland in recording a 10-point victory. Six-pointers from best on ground Nat Fyfe and Luke Shuey proved the difference in the end, with the game also marked by a few spot-fires as both teams gave it their all in front of an entertained crowd at the Adelaide Oval. But the win has been soured, at least for Collingwood fans, with captain Scott Pendlebury set to miss the second Test of the series, and potentially the start of pre-season training as well, with a broken finger sustained in the second term. Fyfe was a class above all day, bringing Australia back into the contest after Ireland had broken clear early in the second term with a pair of overs, before producing the play of the day in the third: a curling strike that beat Irish keeper Niall Morgan before rebounding off the post for the hosts' first goal. Half-back stalwarts Michael Hibberd and Kade Simpson were almost as influential, with the latter bringing his own ball as he racked up 37 touches with customary composure, while Patrick Dangerfield, Eddie Betts and Chad Wingard were all dangerous with ball in hand. But defender Robbie Tarrant was just as influential, taking Irish star Michael Murphy, who threatened to break the game open with two first-quarter overs, effectively out of the match for the rest of the game. For the Irish, it was Conor McManus and then daylight, as the star forward booted seven overs for the match, while Murphy was impressive with two goals and a six-pointer in the first quarter and a bit before being nullified by Tarrant, finishing with two more overs in the final term. As the match ebbed and flowed in a pulsating first half, where twice the Irish dominated the start of the quarter before the Australians took over the longer it went on, the only question was whether the Australians' dominance in the time in possession stakes- they finished the half with almost double the visitors' disposals- would be enough to outweigh Ireland's greater quality in moving it forward. And that question was answered in emphatic fashion as Ireland began to tire early in the second half, with Fyfe, Dangerfield and the silky Dayne Zorko running amok in midfield, and Ben Brown and Eddie Betts dangerous in front. It was the Aussies' turn to tire in the final quarter as Ireland, led by the ultra-impressive McManus, kept on coming, before a clever tap-in on the goal line from Luke Shuey finally put the result to bed. Nevertheless, with the series to be decided on the points aggregate across the two matches, Ireland's ability to score a pair of overs late to reduce the margin from 17 to 10 points by the final siren could prove crucial when the two teams head to Perth next week.
mickyo
Guest
Although i am hesitant to quote Basil, it was a good exhibition of IR, it really has a good flavour of AF, Gaelic and a soccer influence no doubt because of the round ball and the influence the EPL must play in Ireland being just across the Irish sea from England. Personally i feel it is understated and underrated in Australia, whether that can be turned around is debateable as the last few years has seen it fade a bit in popularity. I may point out that marking or fielding as it is called in Ireland has now become part of the game, previously the Gaelic game did not recognise the mark. Maybe a bit to much handball, but i think part of that is the Australians hesitant to kick as they have a distinct lack of experience with the Gaelic ball..
Tim Miller
Editor
Bad news for Collingwood fans: Scott Pendlebury has been in the rooms since half time, and may require a scan on an injured finger.
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND IRELAND As the siren ticks ever closer, the Irish pull out a party trick as Murphy soccers the ball brilliantly into the path of Walsh, who does brilliantly to collect and slam through...a behind. He curses to himself, but the siren sounds and Australia will take a 10-point lead into Game 2. Australia 2.13.12 (63) Ireland 1.13.8 (53) FULL TIME
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND IRELAND Geaney finds McManus, who marks on the flank as everyone looks nearly out of it. He puts everything into the kick long, but he can't score his eighth as the ball fades to the right. Australia 63 Ireland 52 Q4, 17'
Tim Miller
Editor
Time now the enemy for Ireland, as the clock ticks over the 17-minute mark. Tuohy takes a free kick and goes long, but it drifts out on the full. That might have been their last chance.
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND AUSTRALIA Burgoyne goes to Betts in a one-on-one, and Eddie takes a strong one-grab in front. He misses from close range, surprisingly, as the Aussies continue to keep Ireland in the match. Australia 63 Ireland 51 Q4, 16'
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND IRELAND Goddard runs under the ball as it spills close to the goals, Murphy tries to spike it through, but the Australians hold him at bay and force it through for a behind! That would have made things really interesting. Australia 62 Ireland 51 Q4, 15'
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND AUSTRALIA Great tackling pressure from Betts in the closest part of the ground to his pocket, and he wins the free for holding the ball. He chips it to the hot spot, and Fyfe rises to take the strong mark. He misses to the far side, though, otherwise he would have had the man of the match award sewn up. Australia 62 Ireland 50 Q4, 14'
Tim Miller
Editor
OVER IRELAND Suddenly, Ireland have come again as Michael Murphy takes the chance to curl through his fourth over from close range. Australia 61 Ireland 50 Q4, 13'
Tim Miller
Editor
OVER IRELAND Once again, McManus keeps Ireland in the game as he curls through a magnificent over from long range. Dead-set gun. Australia 61 Ireland 47 Q4, 12'
Tim Miller
Editor
OVER AUSTRALIA Dangerfield shows a cool head as he chips wide to Zorko in space. 40 out, his kick is just as silky as it would be with an oval ball. Right through the uprights, and the Aussies break away once more. Australia 61 Ireland 44 Q4, 11'
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND AUSTRALIA Sloane marks in space close to goal, but for the third time today, his shot is offline. Australia 58 Ireland 44 Q4, 11'
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL AUSTRALIA Shuey might have sealed it! If that's not the winner, it's pretty close to it. Long ball in from Gunston just evades the Irish defenders, Morgan was stuck on his line, and Shuey spikes in the six-pointer and celebrates accordingly! They'll be hard to beat now. Australia 57 Ireland 44 Q4, 10'