Ireland Take Narrow Lead Into Second Test

International Rules First Test: Australia 44 Ireland 45

Ireland will take a narrow lead into the second Test in Melbourne after Australia mounted a late comeback to come with in a point of Sean Boylan's side in a nerve-wracking encounter in Perth on Friday. 

Ireland's aggregate 45-44 lead has set up a potential thriller for the second Test next week, with the Australians showing they are capable of adapting well to the new rules and the round ball.

Ireland had a substantial 17-point lead going in to the last 15 minutes but conceded five overs without reply to let the advantage slip between their fingers.

Crucially, the game was played in a fantastic spirit and the roughhouse tactics and violence that marred previous series was all but absent in a match that will do more than anything to secure the future of the hybrid game.

Ireland captain Sean Cavanagh opted to play with the breeze in the first half and it proved a wise move as the weather played a significant part on the day.

Cavanagh and Kieran Donaghy were the star men for Ireland, the duo combining for a sublime goal in the third quarter.

Leighton Glynn and Steven McDonnell scored Ireland's two other goals, while Australia had brilliant maksmen in Marc Murphy and Scott Thompson, who scored three overs apiece to keep Mick Malthouse's men in the game.

Ireland led 9-1 after the first quarter, but were lucky as Matt Campbell missed an early penalty after John Keane had fouled in the area.

Campbell's penalty was poorly struck and David Gallagher saved smartly low to his right to give Ireland an early boost. Gallagher, who was plucked from obscurity by manager Sean Boylan, played brilliantly throughout and twice denied the home side later in the game with some fine saves.

Ireland failed to concede a goal in four quarters of gripping football, something that will please Boylan going into the second Test.

Cavanagh fired the only over of the first quarter after seven minutes as the home side struggledto get to grips with the round ball. Their shooting was particularly wayward in the first 18 minutes, but improved greatly when they had the breeze at their backs.

Campbell atoned somewhat for his earlier miss when he struck for the first three-pointer of the second quarter before Paddy Bradley hit back for the visitors with a fine over from his hands.

Wicklow man Glynn then snaffled the first goal of the game after Joe McMahon had played him in on goal with a clever long delivery.

But Australia then hit back with a stunning five-minute burst just before the break to eat into Ireland's substantial lead.

Campbell and Murphy - after Gallagher had saved brilliantly - fired overs before Thompson found his range with the two best scores of the game to leave the sides level at the interval.

But with the wind behind them, Ireland hit back with ferocity, Donaghy grabbing a huge mark on the edge of the square before splitting the posts as the Kerry native's considerable influence became more apparent.

Donaghy then produced a sublime piece of skill as he chipped the ball into Cavanagh's hands just inside the square and the Footballer of the Year rifled the ball to the back of the net past the hapless Australian goalkeeper, Nathan Block.

Cavanagh and Wexford man Ciaran Lyng nudged Ireland further ahead with well-worked overs, with Brent Harvey, the Australia captain, reducing the gap with his first three-pointer of the game.

Australia were rocked on their heels just before the break when Ireland struck for a second goal, Benny Coulter taking the ball to the endline and pulling the ball back soccer-style to Steven McDonnell, who evaded a tackler and with the referee waving play on to indicate advantage was being played, poked the ball home for six points.

Murphy, the Australia dangerman, did hit back with an over just before the hooter sounded, but Ireland went into the fourth quarter with a comfortable 41-28 lead.  

It looked ominous for Australia immediately after the restart as Cavanagh set up the effervescent Glynn for another well-worked over.

However, the Australians hit back with a superb late burst to rescue the game from the fire as Murphy and Leigh Montagna chipped in with further scores.

Trailing by seven points with six minutes left on the clock, Murphy and David Rodan struck for overs as the clock counted down.

Ireland had a late goal chance, but as Paddy Bradley raced through on goal and looked to grab six more points, Dale Rodan put in a late tackle to deny the Derry man.