Ireland 28; Australia 87: Australia eased past Ireland in the second half of the third Test in the U-17 International Rules to take the series 2-1 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. The more powerful Aussies dominated from start to finish.
Jay Schultz was the outstanding player on view for the visitors, scoring 26 points, including Australia's second goal near the end. Matthew Moody poached the other goal mid-way through the second quarter, availing of hesitancy in the home defence to palm the ball in for a 35-22 lead.
Playing their second game in four days, Ireland quickly fell 14-0 adrift. The efforts of Meath's Barry Egan and Kerry's Barry O'Grady kept Ireland in touch as they trailed 20-16 after the first quarter. The gap was reduced to just three points early in the second quarter, but that was the closest Ireland got and the stronger and fitter Australians regained control. They led 51-28 entering the final quarter as a one-sided encounter eventually ended.
IRELAND: S Dunphy (Wexford), D Breen (Kerry, capt), G Brennan (Dublin), K Cleere (do), P Conlon (Roscommon), K Costello (Mayo), R Hogan (Galway, 0-1), A Johnson (Meath), J Kavanagh (Kildare), C Kelly (do, 0-3), B O'Grady (Kerry, 0-6), B O'Regan (Meath, 0-9), N McGee (Donegal), J Malone (Mayo), A McClean (Antrim), D McGlade (Cavan, 0-3), B McGoldrick (Derry, 0-1), S Molloy (Donegal), B Mullen (Roscommon), S O'Brien (Fermanagh), P O'Connor (Kerry, 0-3), C O'Kane (Derry), M O'Shea (Clare), B Phelan (Dublin), M Smyth (Donegal, 0-2), E McNicholl (Derry).