Irish pride restored in spiteful second clash

International Rules Series 2005 - Second Test

A spirited Irish performance restored pride, but it was Australia who walked away with the 2005 Foster’s International Rules Series, completing a two-game sweep with a 21-point victory in the fiery second Test tonight at Telstra Dome.

While the Aussies’ comprehensive triumph will receive plaudits, the story of the evening was the spiteful nature of the clash, which produced numerous scuffles and the red card dismissal of Australian captain Chris Johnson in the second quarter. He felled Ireland’s Phillip Jordan with an ugly ‘coathanger’, then proceeded to take on the whole Irish team, earning an early shower for his trouble.

The fireworks lifted the visitors momentarily as they clawed within eight points at the last change, but in the end, Australia’s superior fitness was a telling factor in a dominant final term, as they booted seven overs to run out comfortable winners.

Co-captain Andrew McLeod’s sterling run and cool head under pressure won him the Jim Stynes Medal for Australia’s best player over the two Tests, while Tom Kelly secured the Irish equivalent for his excellent performances on a disappointing tour.

A 37-point win was needed to retain the Cormac McAnnallen Trophy and Ireland started the contest with an eye to achieving that near impossible task. Spurred on by a vocal Irish contingent in the crowd, they jumped out of the blocks, attacking the Australians with a physicality missing from their first encounter.

Tackling with verve, the Irish unsettled the Aussies, who took half a quarter to adjust to the new-look Ireland side. Once they did, however, the response was decisive, as they cut the margin back to two points at the first break, before going on to control the second term, behind the Swans’ forward duo of Ryan O’Keefe and Nick Davis.

They added four overs between them, as the Australians’ speed and skill began to take its toll on the visitors, who struggled to create enough scoring opportunities up forward. It took until the last 30 seconds of the half for the Irish to notch up their first over of the quarter, as they went into the major break down by 13-points and still seething over the Johnson incident.

Things turned around for them in the third stanza, as further altercations involving Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge, Ireland’s Ciaran McManus and Geelong’s Darren Milburn seemed to spark the Irish into action. They scored the next nine points and only a wonderful stop from Aussie goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher prevented them from creeping even closer.

Though the series was long gone, Ireland remained within striking distance of a morale-boosting Test win, but their hopes were quickly snuffed out by the brilliant Matthew Lappin. Together with Andrew Lovett and McLeod, he rang rings around the tiring Irish side in the final term, ensuring the Australians would celebrate victory for the first time in Melbourne.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!