Australia 44 Ireland 45:Ireland take the narrowest of advantages into the second Test of the International Rules series after a one point win over Australia in Perth this afternoon. In a match that took time to come to life the advantage ebbed and flowed and despite some fussy refereeing at times, in which the letter of brand new laws was strictly adhered to, there was plenty to suggest that there is life in the series yet.
Key to Ireland's win were three goals, one in the second quarter and two in the third. In contrast, Australia failed to find the net, despite a penalty and at least one clear cut chance in which their unfamiliarity with the round ball was exposed.
Rules changes were introduced to cut down on the ugly scenes witnessed in previous games and, though they appeared to water down the contest in the early exchanges, they ultimately contributed to a more free-flowing encounter that saw its fair share of class from both sides and just one yellow card that came in the final quarter.
"I thought that football was the winner tonight, big time, it didn't matter whether it was Australia or whether it was ourselves," said Ireland coach Seán Boylan afterwards. "If it was the other way round tonight we'd have taken it just the very same.
"Come next week, win or lose, as long as this goes the way it went tonight, there's a great series for generations to come."
Both sides struggled to come to terms with the amendments in the first quarter but it was Ireland who coped better, building up an eight point advantage as their hosts repeatedly played the ball into touch and misfired when shooting on the run.
Two Benny Coulter marks, one at either end of the quarter, stood out for the visitors and both resulted in behinds for Steven McDonnell and Joe McMahon.
Seán Cavanagh was the only player to register a three-point over after claiming a good mark but the captain almost cost his side six points with a stray crossfield pace that put John Keane under pressure form Matty Campbell.
Campbell's pace caught Keane off guard and the Westmeath man was adjudged to have taken down the North Melbourne player in the box, but the latter's attempt on goal from the spot was tame and comfortably gathered by David Gallagher in the Ireland goal.
Further behinds by Michael Meehan and Cavanagh ensured a 9-1 lead by the end of the quarter.
Campbell made amends after the restart, when Cavanagh was penalised, taking three points well off his left foot.
Ireland responded with a nine point blitz courtesy of Paddy Bradley and a goal from Leighton Glynn after a brilliant tackle by Cavanagh.
The 14 point lead was quickly wiped away, however, as Australia upped the pace, made their tackles and, crucially, found their range. None more so than Scott Thompson of Adelaide, whose brilliantly struck second over marked Australia's seventh score in a row and moved the hosts into a one point lead.
The hosts were also denied a goal when Gallagher's excellent save at point blank range turned Mark Murphy's effort over the bar.
A timely tackle on McDonnell prevented an effort on goal in the dying moments but redirected the ball behind to level the scores at 19 points apiece.
Tradition dictates that the professional Aussies take control in the third quarter but this time it was Ireland's best period by some distance, with Donaghy and Cavanagh combining for 12 points early on, six of which were secured when the latter latched on to the Kerryman's cheeky chip to fire past Nathan Bock from a tight angle.
Donaghy was again instrumental when the Tyrone man added another over minutes later, as Ireland stretched their lead to 12.
Campbell pulled three back for Australia but Coulter then came to the fore and his contribution over the closing minutes of the quarter was priceless. The Down man first set up Ciaran Lyng for an over and then dribbled to the byline to square for McDonnell, who scrambled the ball into the net, ensuring a 41-24.
Never ones to back down, the Australians made their intentions clear with a rallying fightback in the last quarter. Murphy, Montagne and Michael Osborne all struck overs and Campbell Brown was yellow carded for a high charge on Finian Hanley.
Ireland could only manage one over after a towering mark from Donaghy but put everything on the line to keep their opponents at bay in a frantic finish and took the slimmest possible lead to Melbourne.
"It was as tight as you could get but it was great," added Boylan on RTE television. "I just hope that we can recover in time because I know they will get so much better. But that's good, that's what it's all about."
