Ireland 42 Australia 42
(Australia win series 107-100 on aggregate)
Australia maintained the tradition of the touring side lifting the International Rules series with an aggregate 107-100 victory over Ireland at Croke Park today.
Ireland, much improved on last week's opening test performance, will feel aggrieved that they did not salvage a victory in today's test but a late Nathan Brown over leveled the scores in a pulsating contest played in atrocious conditions.
John O'Keefe's side, just as they did one week ago, burst out of the blocks while their opponents took time to settle. The home side opened up a 8-1 lead after nine minutes; Dessie Dolan and Padraic Joyce combining well up front to trouble the visiting defence.
Ireland were notably more sound in defence and utilised the mark to good effect. Darragh O'Se patrolled the full back line with menace and was ably assisted by young Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton and Cork's Anthony Lynch.
Graham Geraghty, Ciaran McManus and Dolan all found their range to edge Ireland ahead with well taken overs but it was Brendan Jer O'Sullivan's 'behind' that put Ireland one point ahead on aggregate.
Having passed quickly and efficiently in the opening quarter to lead 12-4, Ireland's game plan fell apart in the second. A miserable return of five points, albeit playing into a stiff breeze, shadowed the 14 points hit by the Australians as they asserted themselves on the game.
The miserable underfoot conditions proved difficult for Ireland to negotiate and as a result they lacked fluency in their play. Too often they were dispossessed when attempting to juggle the ball from defence as the Australians rallied well to pin Ireland into their own half for most of the period.
Australia, who had Brad Scott sent off for striking Graham Geraghty eight minutes into the quarter, finished the half strongly and overturned Ireland's earlier advantage to lead 18-17 at half-time thanks largely to fine scores from Chris Johnson, Adam Yze and the excellent Brown.
But Ireland battled back after the break and excelled in what the Australians call the 'championship quarter'. So often in the past, Irish sides have been found out in the third quarter while the Australian's superior fitness comes to the fore.
Ireland, however, struck early to paralyse their opponents. Following Dolan's early over, Ireland put distance between the sides with an opportunist goal from Tyrone midfielder Cormac McAnallen.
Graham Canty played a long ball into Joyce who then saw his goal bound effort cannon off veteran Australian Craig Bradley. An opportunity presented itself to McAnallen who swung viciously at the grounded ball to fire it high into Andrew Kellaway's goal for six points.
With the Australian defence rattled, Ireland pushed on in search of further scores and found the posts through Galway pair Joyce and Derek Savage. Australia are a limited side going forward and possess few attacking outlets. Brown, their most productive forward, was superbly marshaled throughout the quarter by Seamus Moynihan and because of this Australia failed to register a single score in that 20 minute period.
Ireland led 37-18 (12 points on aggregate) going into the final quarter.
Australia ate into that lead soon after the restart when Luke Darcy capitalised on some slack defending by Darragh O'Se and Cluxton to deflect a long ball into the Ireland net for six points.
With the tails up and assisted by a favourable breeze, Australia went for the jugular. Ireland, opting to hand pass from defence rather that kick into the swirling wind, were put under severe pressure and conceded too much breaking ball to their hungry rivals.
Brown and Josh Francou smacked over three pointers to pull the sides level on aggregate with 13 minutes to play. As the 71,000 plus crowd (a record attendance for an international in Ireland) urged a tiring Ireland on, Australia rallied themselves and took the lead through Chris Judd.
But Ireland, having been pinned in their own half, chipped away at the Australian's defence and burrowed their way up field. A four minute period of pressure paid dividends for Ireland as they reduced the aggregate score to just one point with an over from O'Hara and two behinds from Geraghty and Ciaran McManus.
But despite their valiant efforts, Ireland eventually succumbed as forward Chris Johnson plucked a late ball from the skies to claim a mark infront of the Irish posts. The Brisbane Lions star made no mistake, taking the scores to 42-39 and with it the series for the tourists.
A win in the second test would have been meager consolation for the Irish but even that was robbed from them at the death. While the Australian party celebrated in the middle of the pitch - many of whom having already swapped jersey's with their opponents - Brown rattled over a three pointer from a mark he claimed as the hooter sounded, forcing the contest to a tie.