Good morning all and welcome to today’s liveblog. It’s the second test in Perth and Ireland need to overturn a 10-point deficit to lift the Cormac McAnallen Cup today. It’s believed the crowd in Subiaco Oval will hit around the 35,000 mark.
Here was Joe Kernan’s squad arriving earlier today:
Some team news here:
The game is live on RTE 2 and the RTE Player from 8.30am.
Here’s a breakdown of what what Ireland need to do to win this morning:
We’re underway!
Ireland
Morgan
Harrison
Cadogan
Powter
Sheehan
Tuohy
Barrett
Feely
O’Shea
Walsh
Hughes
Sludden
Geaney
Murphy
McManus
Australia 0 Ireland 1
(1st) 1 min – Shane Walsh kicks a behind after taking a mark.
Aidan O’Shea tackles Zorko and slams him to the ground.
Australia 1 Ireland 1
(1st) 1 min – Australia hit a behind to level the game up. Meanwhile in midfield Niall Morgan picks out O’Shea who claims a fine mark from the kick-out.
GOAL! Gary Brennan bags an early six-pointer for Ireland!
Australia 1 Ireland 7
(1st) 8 min – Brennan kept his finish low and gave the keeper no chance.
GOAL! Chris Barrett nets Ireland’s second goal!
Australia 1 Ireland 13
(1st) 8 min – Australia are asleep here and Michael Murphy picks out Brennan, who feeds the run of Barrett for the finish. Ireland lead the series by two now.
Here’s Barrett’s goal:
Team Ireland are not mucking around! That's two quick goals for the boys in green. #AUSvIRE #VirginIRS pic.twitter.com/mWcXRiMptC
— AFL (@AFL) November 18, 2017
Australia 5 Ireland 13
(1st) 13 mins – Eddie Betts kicks a behind for the home side.
Australia 8 Ireland 14
(1st) 14 mins – A shaky moment at the back for Ireland as the Aussies chase a goal, but they must settle for an over. At the far end Brennan hits a behind for Ireland.
Australia 8 Ireland 17
(1st) 14 mins – A brilliant over by McManus sends Ireland nine in front.
Australia 11 Ireland 17
(1st) 18 mins – Sloane lands a fine over for Australia.
Australia 11 Ireland 17 – end of 1st quarter
The goalscorers…
The second quarter is underway.
Sean Cavanagh feels the first quarter has thrown up a lot of positives for Ireland pic.twitter.com/GeH5hoE0zg
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) November 18, 2017
Australia have started the second quarter with eight defenders.
Partick Dangerfield and Aidan O’Shea get involved in a tussle as Wingard hits a wide.
Darren Hughes is drifting back Ben Brown on the edge of the squad when Australia attack. Good tactic by Kernan as Brown is very dangerous under the high ball.
Australia 11 Ireland 18
(2nd) 7 mins – A great run by Shane Walsh sends Hughes in for a goal chance but he must settle for a behind after a good save by Goddard.
Australia 11 Ireland 21
(2nd) 8 mins – McManus slots over his second over.
Australia 12 Ireland 21
(2nd) 8 mins – A behind for Australia.
Australia 12 Ireland 24
9 mins – Murphy slots over a free after a clear push in the back. That’s his first score in this test.
Australia 17 Ireland 27
(2nd) 16 mins – Brown would make a serious full-forward in Gaelic football. He lands an over after a scramble around the Irish D.
Nat Fyfe was Australia’s dangerman last week but he’s been pretty anonymous so far. Kudos to Kerry’s Peter Crowley, who’s done an excellent job on him today.
Australia 17 Ireland 30
(2nd) 18 mins –A very late hit on Chris Barrett by Joel Selwood. He’s black-carded. Australia are punished further as McManus swings an over.
Australia 17 Ireland 30 – HT
There’s a brawl between both sides as they leave for half-time. This will make for a spicy second-half.
The teams get into a confrontation following the half-time whistle in the International Rules. Second half coming up @rte2 pic.twitter.com/aAS8kjSAyy
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) November 18, 2017
The third quarter is underway.
Australia 17 Ireland 33
(3rd) 1 mins –Shane Walsh lands a fantastic score off the left from distance.
Australia 20 Ireland 30
(3rd) 5 mins – Betts is playing very well and he lands another over to bring Australia within 10. If the teams finish level on aggregate, Ireland will retain the trophy as they’re the holders.
Australia 21 Ireland 33
(3rd) 6 mins – Betts with a behind for the Aussies.
Australia 24 Ireland 33
(3rd) 7 mins – Zorko gets an over after Enda Smith is caught in possession. Australia are beginning to take control in midfield.
Australia 27 Ireland 33
(3rd) 10 mins – Fyfe lands his first score after a good Australian move.
Australia 30 Ireland 33
(3rd) 12 mins – Chad Wingard kicks a three-pointer from an easy free after Morgan was caught in possession.
Australia 31 Ireland 36
(3rd) 13 mins – Sheehan kicks an over for Ireland, they really needed that.
Australia 31 Ireland 37
(3rd) 14 mins – Walsh with a behind for Ireland. They’ve stemmed the tide a little now.
Australia 34 Ireland 37
(3rd) 15 mins – Ireland’s lead is down to three now.
SAVE! Walsh is denied by Goddard from close range.
Australia 34 Ireland 41
(3rd) 17 mins – McManus curls over a phenomenal score from the touchline.
Air Fyfe 🛫 #AUSvIRE #VirginIRS pic.twitter.com/Ls1ThcExsW
— AFL (@AFL) November 18, 2017
Australia 34 Ireland 41 – end of 3rd quarter
We’re into the fourth quarter now with all to play for.
Australia 37 Ireland 41
(4th) 1 min – Excellent score by Wingard on the turn there.
Australia 40 Ireland 41
(4th) 2 mins – Niall Sludden is caught by Sloane with a tackle, and Sloane kicks the over.
Australia 40 Ireland 44
(4th) 6 mins – McManus nails an important over for Ireland.
Australia 43 Ireland 44
(4th) 8 mins – Zorko with a fine dummy and over. Then Wingard has a shot well-saved from Morgan.
Australia 43 Ireland 45
(4th) 6 mins – Paul Murphy with a behind for Ireland but Fyfe is starting to lord the airwaves.
Australia 46 Ireland 45
(4th) 11 mins – After an over Australia lead.
Australia 47 Ireland 45
(4th) 13 mins – Brown kicks a behind. Ireland really need a goal here.
Australia 47 Ireland 46
(4th) 14 mins – Niall Murphy with a behind.
Australia 47 Ireland 47
(4th) 15 mins – McManus swings a behind. We’ve just over two minutes left. Can Ireland work a goal?
Australia 47 Ireland 50
(4th) 16 mins – Goal chance by Niall Grimley but he takes the over. Ireland trail the series by seven now.
Australia 53 Ireland 50
(4th) 17 mins – Betts takes the over after another Australia turnover. Zorko adds another.
Australia 53 Ireland 50 – FT
