 Kieran Donaghy outjumps Michael Firrito (left) and Adam Selwood |
Ireland will take a slim one-point lead into next week's International Rules Second Test after hanging on to beat Australia 45-44 in Perth on Friday. The visitors led 9-1 after the opening quarter before Leighton Glynn's goal stretched the advantage to 18-4. Australia fought back to level at half-time but goals from Sean Cavanagh and Steven McDonnell helped the Irish lead 41-28 after three quarters. The home side cut into Ireland's lead late in the closing quarter. Ireland were under serious pressure in the final quarter but the yellow carding of Australia's Campbell Brown gave the visitors some breathing space and they were able to play possession football in the closing moments. The match had none of the ugly scenes which marred the 2006 Tests and led to the cancellation of last year's series. Brown was the only player to be sin-binned for his yellow card offence and while there were the usual quota of heavy hits, the game was played in a predominantly sporting manner. The impressive Sean Cavanagh was the only player to hit a three-point over in the opening quartet as both sides struggled to get to grips with the compromise format. When Ireland were leading 6-1, the Aussies did earn a penalty but goalkeeper David Gallagher easily saved Matt Campbell's weak effort.  Ireland manager Sean Boylan (left) and Aussie boss Mick Malthouse |
Campbell partially atoned by hitting Australia's first over to cut the margin to five early in the second quarter but Paddy Bradley's three-pointer was then followed by Leighton Glynn's goal as the Irish moved 18-4 ahead. But the Aussies dominated the remainder of the second quarter with Campbell and Marc Murphy overs then followed by two superb scores from Scott Thompson. That put the home side 19-18 ahead but Steven McDonnell brought the sides level before the hooter with a behind, which he believed should have resulted in a penalty. Kieran Donaghy's over restored Ireland's lead at the start of the third quarter and Sean Cavanagh then blasted in a stunning goal to put the Irish nine ahead after great work by Glynn and Donaghy. Ireland looked in control when McDonnell bundled in his team's third goal late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 41-24. Crucially, the Aussie tagged on four points before the completion of the quarter which reduced Ireland's lead to 41-28. The lively Leighton Glynn kicked another over early in the final quartet to extend the margin to 45-28 but it proved to be Ireland's final score of the game. As Australia took complete control in the closing minutes, Marc Murphy (two), Leigh Montagna, Michael Osbourne and David Rodan all swung over three pointers to cut Ireland's lead to the minimum. Campbell Brown's sin-binning gave the under siege Irish a little breathing space and the visitors were able to keep the ball in the final minute as they hung to win.
Ireland: David Gallagher; Aidan O'Mahony, Finian Hanley, John Keane; Bryan Cullen, Kevin Reilly, Ciar�n McKeever; Graham Canty, Colm Begley; Enda McGinley, Se�n Cavanagh, Joe McMahon; Steven McDonnell, Kieran Donaghy, Benny Coulter.Interchange Players: Paddy Bradley, Leighton Glynn, Aaron Kernan, Ciar�n Lyng, Justin McMahon, Michael Meehan, John Miskella, Pearse O'Neill, Tom Parsons. Australia: Nathan Bock, Michael Firrito, Brad Sewell, Campbell Brown, Ryan Crowley, Drew Petrie, Adam Selwood, Brent Harvey, Scott Thompson, Scott Pendlebury, Daniel Motlop, David Rodan, Michael Osbourne, Shaun Burgoyne, Matt Campbell. Interchange players (from): Matthew Boyd, Leigh Montagna, Jared Brennan, Kade Simpson, Dale Thomas, Max Rooke, Nathan Foley, Roger Hayden, Daniel Wells, Marc Murphy.
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