Australia 2-13-12 (63)
Ireland 1-13-8 (53)
IRELAND HEAD TO Perth for the second test with the International Rules series still very much alive.
After three quarters of this morning’s clash in warm conditions at the Adelaide Oval, the Irish found themselves 15 points behind but a strong finish from Joe Kernan’s side gives them hope heading into Saturday’s second test.
The visitors kicked five three-pointers in the final quarter, but a breakaway goal from Luke Schuey ensured Australia kept daylight between the teams.
Outside of Conor McManus (seven overs, four behinds) and Michael Murphy (goal, five overs, two behinds), Ireland struggled to generate scores in front of a crowd of 25,502. In contrast, 10 Australians found the scoresheet as they managed the game far more effectively.
McManus has been top-scorer for Ireland in each of the last three series, and he finished with 24 points after another fine display in front of the posts for his country.
Ben Brown and Eddie Betts made some key plays for the Aussies, while Nat Fyfe hit a spectacular goal in the third quarter.
Pure brilliance from Nat Fyfe! What a finish that was 🙌 #VirginIRS #AUSvIRE pic.twitter.com/A04bSXjhRn
— AFL (@AFL) November 12, 2017
The vomiting bug that hit the Irish camp this week forced Roscommon’s Enda Smith and Sligo’s Niall Murphy out of the first test, while AFL import Pearce Hanley suffered a suspected broken hand in the second quarter and will likely miss next week’s deciding game.
Ireland raced into a 6-2 lead inside the opening six minutes, but Patrick Dangerfield, Chad Wingard and Luke Shuey all kicked overs to move the home side in front.
Murphy bagged a crucial six-pointer for the Irish early on in the second-quarter with a neat finish after a fine move involving Shane Walsh, Paul Geaney and Pearce Hanley.
Moments later McManus stroked over an over as Ireland moved into a 24-14 lead.
But by half-time the Aussies were back in front as Fyfe bagged a brace of overs and rangy full-forward Brown added another one.
Australia led by 28-27 at the interval, but powered clear in a dominant third quarter. Fyfe slotted over an over and then buried a superb goal to leave the home side in control.
No need for a boot with Shuey! Very handy goal 😎 #AUSvIRE #VirginIRS pic.twitter.com/6ijBwsySmK
— AFL (@AFL) November 12, 2017
McManus and Murphy kept the Ireland scoreboard ticking over, but Eddie Betts and Paddy Ryder added an over each to leave Australia 15 points in front after the third quarter.
Despite the heat, Ireland performed admirably in the fourth quarter. Luke Shuey’s goal, when he flicked a long delivery past Niall Morgan, was a rare bright spark for the Aussies in a final quarter that was largely dominated by Ireland.
McManus sent over a brace of overs while Murphy and Paul Geaney added an over apiece to leave Ireland within 10 points at the final whistle.
Scorers for Australia: Nathan Fyfe 16 (1-3-1); Chad Wingard 8 (0-2-2); Ben Brown (0-2-0), Luke Shuey (1-0-0), Dayne Zorko (0-2-0) 6 each; Eddie Betts 5 (0-1-2); Patrick Dangerfield, Kade Simpson, Paddy Ryder 3 (0-1-0) each; Zach Merrett, Rory Sloane 2 (0-0-2) each; Michael Hibberd, Jack Gunston, Travis Boak (0-0-1) each.
Scorers for Ireland - Conor McManus 24 (0-7-3), Michael Murphy 20 (1-4-2), Conor Sweeney and Paul Geaney 3 each (0-1-0), Niall Sludden 2 (0-0-2), Shane Walsh 1 (0-0-1).
Australia
Brendon Goddard (Essendon)
Shane Burgoyne (Hawthorn)
Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne)
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Kade Simpson (Carlton)
Rory Laird (Adelaide Crows)
Luke Shuey (West Coast Eagles)
Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide)
Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions)
Michael Hibberd (Melbourne)
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats)
Rory Sloane (Adelaide Crows)
Eddie Betts (Adelaide Crows)
Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide).
Interchanges:
Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
Ben Brown (North Melbourne)
Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Zac Merrett (Essendon)
Neville Jetta (Melbourne).
Ireland
Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
Killian Clarke (Shercock, Cavan)
Eoin Cadogan (Douglas, Cork)
Brendan Harrison (Aghamore, Mayo)
Chris Barrett (Belmullet, Mayo)
Zach Tuohy (Portlaoise, Laois/Geelong Cats)
Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers, Kerry)
Aidan O’Shea (capt, Breaffy, Mayo)
Kevin Feely (Athy, Kildare)
Pearce Hanley (Ballaghderreen, Mayo/Gold Coast Suns)
Niall Sludden (Dromore, Tyrone)
Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Galway)
Paul Geaney (Dingle, Kerry)
Michael Murphy (Glenswilly, Donegal)
Conor McManus (Clontibret, Monaghan).
Interchanges:
Gary Brennan (Clondegad, Clare)
Niall Grimley (Madden Raparees, Armagh)
Paul Murphy (Rathmore, Kerry)
Karl O’Connell (Tyholland, Monaghan)
Seán Powter (Douglas, Cork)Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen, Tipperary)
Referees: Matt Stevic (Australia), Maurice Deegan (Ireland).
