IT’S THE FIRST part of an Ireland v Australia sporting double-header. All eyes will be on Lansdowne Road later this afternoon but first, it’s time for the one-off International Rules Test in Perth.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the action. Email niall@thescore.ie, tweet @TheScoreGAA, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
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Good morning!
Let’s cut to the chase: it’s far too early on a Saturday to be trying to do anything but for sport, we’re always willing to make a sacrifice.
The much-maligned International Rules series resumes this morning as Ireland take on Australia in a once-off Test in Perth.
Paul Earley’s side won by a record margin against the Indigenous All-Stars last year and if the buzz from down under is to be believed, the Aussies are out to make amends this year.
To that end they’ve picked a squad full of players who have won All-Australian honours and they’ve also got the public behind them, with Patersons Stadium reportedly close to its 43,500 capacity.
Let’s be honest though — most of those are probably Irish!
Kick-off is at 5.45pm Perth time; that’s 9.45am in real money.
Still a lot of empty seats inside the ground but you can guarantee the place will be heaving in a half an hour.
Here’s a reminder of the Ireland touring panel. Paul Earley can name 23 in his matchday squad.
Cork: Colm O’Neill, Aidan Walsh (vc)
Derry: Chrissy McKaigue
Donegal: Neil McGee, Michael Murphy (c)
Down: Kevin McKernan
Dublin: James McCarthy
Galway: Finian Hanley
Kerry: David Moran
Kildare: Pádraig O’Neill
Laois: Colm Begley, Ross Munnelly
Mayo: Colm Boyle, Pearse Hanley (Brisbane Lions), Lee Keegan, Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan O’Shea
Meath: Paddy O’Rourke
Monaghan: Darren Hughes, Conor McManus
Roscommon: Cathal Cregg
Tipperary: Ciaran McDonald
Tyrone: Seán Cavanagh, Mattie Donnelly, Niall Morgan
Zach Touhy — from Carlton via Portlaoise — knows where his priorities lie:
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Here’s the Australian squad. Anyone who watches the AFL highlights on TG4 will recognise a few familiar names — eight are current All-Australians:
Grant Birchall (Hawthorn), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Luke Breust (Hawthorn), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide), Duston Fletcher (Essendon), Brendan Goddard (Essendon), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans), Steve Johnson (Geelong), Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney Swans), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Nic Naitanui (West Coast), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions), Joel Selwood (c, Geelong), Brodie Smith (Adelaide), Nick Smith (Sydney Swans), Harry Taylor (Geelong), Jobe Watson (Essendon), Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide).
Celine Mangan and Jenna Moriarty enjoy the Saturday afternoon sun.
It’s a balmy 10°C in Dublin this morning, FYI
Here’s the Ireland team, courtesy of TG4:
Here’s a quick refresher on the “compromise” rule scoring in case you need a reminder.
It’s six points for a goal, three for an “over” (over the GAA bar), and one for a behind (between the outer posts).
Simple, eh?
Here’s how the Aussies line up, again via TG4:
What better time to remind you that both sets of players are wearing White Ribbons today in support of the campaign to stop violence against women.
Australia 3-0 Ireland: Steve Johnson has a free in front of the posts and knocks it over to give the Aussies an early lead.
David Moran takes the mark from Paddy O’Rourke’s kick-out and finds Colm O’Neill. He has a chance to kick Ireland level but it’s well right and wide. Not even a behind.
Australia 6-0 Ireland: Selwood kicks another over. Really strong start by the hosts.
Australia 9-0 Ireland: Lovely bit of quick movement by the Australian forwards and Ireland keeper Paddy O’Rourke does really well to save from Harvey and put it over the bar.
Australia 9-1 Ireland: Colm O’Neill gets Ireland off the mark with a behind but it’s been all Australia so far.
Australia 12-1 Ireland: Big let-off for Ireland as Wingard’s chance comes back off the post and into the hands of a grateful Paddy O’Rourke. Australia regain possession and Johnson hits the over.
Australia 15-1 Ireland: A big, big over from Steve Johnson. He has three overs (nine points) already and the Aussies are flying.
Australia 18-1 Ireland: Another mark by Wingard, another over. Ireland are seriously struggling here.
Australia 19-1 Ireland: Nick Riewoldt kicks a behind. All of the play is in the Irish half at the moment.
Ireland haven’t settled at all. All of the balls into the forwards are totally aimless and the Australian defence keep gobbling it up.
Australia 22-1 Ireland: Jared McVeigh saunters forward unopposed and points Australia’s seventh over. Ireland need to change things up and they need to do it fast!
The Irish tactics are wrecking Wooly’s head:
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Australia 22-4 Ireland: Ireland get a break from referee Marty Duffy as he awards a mark when Michael Murphy looked to have spilled possession. Murphy kicks the visitors’ first over.
So much for saving the series! We might never recover if the Aussies keep this up:
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Brilliant tackle by Smith who dives in to deny Colm O’Neill, much to the delight of the Perth crowd.
Australia 22-5 Ireland: David Moran kicks the first score of the second quarter, a behind for Ireland
Australia 25-5 Ireland: Steve Johnson drifts into space in front of O’Rourke’s posts, takes the mark, and points an easy over.
Aidan O’Shea has a chance for a simple score but skews it a million miles wide off his left boot. Shocking stuff.
Just as I was about to type that Ireland are settling and playing a bit better, Colm Begley kicks the ball straight into Australian hands under no pressure.
Never mind.
Australia 28-6 Ireland: Riewoldt kicks another Australian over. Hanley responds with a behind for Ireland.
Wonder if Richie is regretting getting out of bed?
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Australia 31-7 Ireland: Superb play by Nick Riewoldt who gets up over Neil McGee to win the mark. He takes another as play quickly develops and then kicks his first over.
Ross Munnelly drops a shot off the top of the Australian bar. I’m not sure he was going for goal there but he very nearly caught Fletcher off guard.
“We can’t even kick the ball 20 metres to one of our own,” tweets Galway legend Padraic Joyce, “which proves our own game is littered with too much hand passing.”
Australia 35-7 Ireland: An over for Riewoldt, a behind for Breust. This is turning into a hammering.
This looks to be our best bet at the moment…
Pablo: Feck it .. we’ll give em this one and smash em in the Rugby.
Australia 35-8 Ireland: Lee Keegan kicks a behind to get Ireland on the board in this third quarter.
Australia 38-8 Ireland: Chad Wingard has all day and all night to kick an over … and he does.
Australia 41-8 Ireland: Jared McVeigh with an over. Ireland love kicking away possession.
GOAL FOR IRELAND! Australia 41-14 Ireland: Darren Hughes gets on to a breaking ball and rolls in the game’s opening goal. Even at this stage, it looks like it will be far too little far too late for Ireland.
Australia 42-17 Ireland: Conor McManus kicks an over and, despite what I just wrote, Ireland are threatening to make this interesting.
Australia 42-20 Ireland: A great goal chance for Ireland but they’ve to settle for an over through Mattie Donnelly. It’s a 22-point game now.
Australia 42-23 Ireland: Make that a 19-point game now as Conor McManus takes another mark and scores an over. Ireland have outscored the Aussies 15-1 in the last seven minutes!
Australia 42-26 Ireland: Another Irish over! Mattie Donnelly again. Fine response by Ireland but surely they’ve left themselves with far too much work to do?
Australia 43-27 Ireland: A behind apiece — Gray for Australia, Hanley for Ireland.
Australia 43-30 Ireland: Marvellous stuff by Down’s Kevin McKernan. There’s only been one team in this quarter and it has been the visitors.
Australia 46-30 Ireland: That could be crucial for Australia. Robbie Gray scores an over from in front of the posts to steady the ship.
Serious stuff by Ireland in that third quarter, outscoring Australia 23-11. They’ll need to do eve better in the last 18 minutes to turn this around and retain the Cormac McAnallen Cup though.
The tactic there seemed to be to bombard Aussie keeper Dustin Fletcher. If they keep trying that, the second crucial goal might come.
Patrick Dangerfield and Sean Cavanagh compete under a high ball
Here are the thoughts of Dublin’s Paul Flynn:
Bad miss by Australia as the fourth quarter gets underway. Wingard has a chance for a handy over and scuffs it so far wide, he doesn’t even get a point for a behind.
Australia 46-33 Ireland: Colm Begley floats in an over on the run with his left boot. Thirteen points the margin now with 15 minutes to play.
That could be costly. Darren Hughes has a free kick in from the left but can’t make it count.
Australia 50-33 Ireland: Big play by Wingard. He gets up above James McCarthy to take the mark and slots an easy over. Gray adds a behind and Australia have a small bit more breathing room.
Australia 53-33 Ireland: You may forget any thoughts of an Irish comeback, I think. The Aussies are cutting Ireland open with some really slick handpassing, and Kieran Jack puts them 20 points up.
Australia 53-36 Ireland: Conor McManus with another over. He’s been at the heart of this Irish revival.
Australia 53-37 Ireland: Cavanagh snatches at a difficult chance, turning to kick over his shoulder, and it’s a behind. Australia are far more composed in this final quarter.
Australia 56-37 Ireland: Australia picking off their scores now, and Breust kicks an over.
GOAL FOR IRELAND! Australia 56-43 Ireland: Absolutely bizarre stuff as there’s a scramble in front of the Australian goal and Nick Smith hoofs it into his own net.
And when I say hoofs it, I mean hoofs it!
Ireland have the ball in the Australian net again but it’s a free out for a foul on keeper Dustin Fletcher.
Australia 56-46 Ireland: Conor McManus with a fine, fine over. He’s certainly been one of Ireland’s standout performers.
Close but no cigar for Ireland but, at the very least, it was entertaining.
Is that enough to save the series?
Ireland captain Michael Murphy pays tribute to the Australians and says that he hopes to have many more great series against them down the line.
Conor McManus is named Irish Player of the Series, while Luke Hodge wins the Jim Stynes Medal.
That’s it from us. If we needed an argument to keep this series alive, the entertainment provided by this morning’s game might just be it.
Ireland’s slow start cost them in the end but the second half showed just how entertaining the compromise code can be when both sides field strong sides and go for the win.
Thanks for reading.
Aidan O’Shea WTF, straight in front of the posts and he hits the corner flag!
well he is from mayo
It’s not on Rte , which is ridiculous
It’s on RTE2
Eh TG4 lads
Sorry my apologies. TG4 are showing it
Also on 7mate if you have that Ozzie channel ;-)
Yes it’s a great way to revive the series leaving it on tg4, genius
Not on rte yet they still managed to send Marty Morrissey and company out to Perth on a junket!
They be banging on about cutting the violence out….secretly I think that’s the reason we tune in!
We do, but the players are a bunch of pansies. Maybe they should consider a girl’s game like netball or soccer.
A nation holds its breath.
It’s on BBC9 . It’s BBC’s Republican Channel .
The lack of kick passing in modern day football is being shown up big time today
Ireland at sea for the first 10 mins, the pace of the game is killing them.
Commentary on newstalk for us west Brits !
It’s easy be cynical about this game but as seen today it can be very entertaining. I think Ireland had a measure of the Aussies by the end, but the damage was done early on. Shame there isn’t another match, it could have been great.
A passionate match in front of a packed house with an Australian all star team. If the series dies it is not down to the Australians but the Irish cynics who have wanted to see it fail from day 1.
More please
True. It is a good Compromise game. Almost non stop action. Spot the instinctive play action of each team and you should understand their difficulties. Aussies can tackle from behind, better at Shepherding before the ball arrives, more used to pressure to play the ball out of tackle.
I like this game.
Ireland getting beaten like a one legged ginger step child. Make it stop.
Brilliant
Feck it .. we’ll give em this one and smash em in the Rugby.
Anyone outside Ireland at the moment who can’t get it on TG4 due to regional restrictions, download Cyberghost for android or iOS, set the false ip country and the address to Ireland, click to trust the app, open your browser and go to TG4.ie. Click on ‘Beo’ or “live” and it’ll work perfectly.
don’t bother your b@llox it’s over.
Game on Ger!!!
I’m in Dubai & no one here knows if it’s on TV. Come on Ireland!!!!
In fairness very average Irish squad sent out to play against an Australian team made up of some of the AFLs best. A different level.
Time for Gaelic to bring in a 3 handball limit as we are losing the kicking and fielding skills. One of our best players (Hanley) plays with the sherrin …. some shocking kicking by our boys while the Aussies have a way better % in overs to behinds …. thats where we should be stronger.
It’s on in the Station in Didsbury! Another all day outing!!!
Short passing game seems to be the only option for the Irish team.
the killing of football by Ulster teams is complete.
Hard luck to the GAA lads. A well deserved holiday. Ultimately, like the rugby football later, nothing was resting on this. At least the GAA lads were proud to stand behind the national anthem when representing Ireland away from home.
Eh … Just remind me, what exactly is “resting” on the Rugby match later? What championship is that part of?
Rugby has always placed importance on one off matches, thats why they are called tests and not friendlies. You can’t just apply one sports structures on another. Championship is defined as “a contest for the position of champion in a sport or game” .In this instance the contest is the game itself. To break it down a bit more for you, the “championship” is the Ireland v Australia 2014 championship, with the team with the hightest score after 80 minutes being the champion of Ireland v Australia. In rugby its refered to as a test, if more than one game is played to decide which side is better it is called a series. This is not like soccer where a one of game outside larger tournaments has no meaning, and usually weaker teams are played. This is a full on competition to prove which team is better. The meaning of the game is dictated by those that follow and understand the sport. Can’t really understand why some have such problems with grasping this. Hopefully this helps clarify it for you.
As do the Irish rugby team. If you don’t understand the protocols of rugby, with regard to the use of Ireland’s Call on away matches, then fair enough. The Irish rugby team is made up of north and south, regardless of what you feel. It’s a fact.
But trust you to bring up something boorish just to ease the chip on your shoulder. Cant watch your GAAAAAA without spitting at the neighbour’s bull over the ditch. How parochial. How predictable.
oh yeah…. At least the Irish rugby team can win.
Hard luck Ireland, played well in the third quarter against a professional Aussie outfit. Still much better fare than the egg chasing crap served up later. Irish sure love those garrison games.
A simple mind can’t cope with following more than one sports code.
The fact our goal was scored using “soccer skills” is telling. Lack of ambition and imagination in 80% of our intercounty teams is being shown up in our general skillset.
It’s their sheer physicality that is the difference, every 50/50 in 80/20 in Aussies favour. We can’t tackle them to the ground in the same way as the Aussies. Trying to make the game as open as possible is our only chance
Too much holiday grog.
Is it me or didn’t we only care when they were hammering the sh*te out of each other?
That was really enjoyable. Both teams left it on the pitch. Fair play to the Irish guys, didn’t give up, pity about the first quarter. More games like that and the series has a hope, maybe on a 4 year rotation?
We need more people to watch this sport and by having it on TG4 doesn’t do us any favours. Not many people speak Irish and as a result, it is excluding the majority from enjoying the game as much as an Irish speaker. The Irish language is culturally important but with a game struggling to get noticed and stay alive, it seems only right to have it in English.
Lansdowne Road. Good man Niall, still fighting the good fight!
Time to disband this joke of a sport. The players and refs get a well deserved holiday but this game should not be taken seriously. A farce. How much is this junket costing the GAA? €250k? There are GAA clubs up and down the country who are up to their neck in debt who would be far more deserving of that money.
This is precisely the kind of small minded cynicism which still dogs the gaa. A few years ago this game would sell out Croke park two weekends in a row, not just funding the series but many a club up and down the country.
With an enjoyable game like today and a bit more media support we could easily get back to that point.
Does Paddy ORourke actually know where he is kicking the ball. If he does, he should have gone to specsavers.
Panic attack averted during sleepy haze – it’s not the rugby match.
Any fighting yet?
Nah just an all round beating for our lads.
#WHITERIBBON
Exciting game but Aussies deserved the win today, if you want to try Aussie Rules start playing in Ireland visit http://www.arfli.com
TG4 having a mare so far!
Ireland having a mare so far…..
I was at the game! What an atmosphere.. The mexican wave was the best bit haha!