Ireland Hold On To Defeat The Aussies In Second Test

International Rules, Second Test:
Australia 53 Ireland 57

Ireland regained the Cormac McAnallen Trophy with a 57-53 [97-102 agg] win over Australia in a thrilling second Test at the MCG on Friday.

Ireland claimed the series by five points on aggregate after taking a one-point lead into the second Test, and it was Benny Coulter, an injury doubt all week, who came good for Seán Boylan's side with two well-taken goals.

Ireland were 17 points ahead going into the final quarter, but Drew Petrie grabbed two overs and a great goal in the final nerve-jangling minutes to set up a grandstand finish.

But Coulter punctured Australia's hopes with ten minutes remaining as he fisted home past the Australian goalkeeper after Sean Burgoyne had given the home side hope with a goal a minute earlier.

Ireland had heroes all over the field, with Graham Canty, named Irish Player of the Series, following up on his great performance at the Subicao Oval last week with another stormer in Melbourne.

Seán Cavanagh, the Ireland captain, scored four overs in another fine display, two of his three-pointers coming in a tepid first quarter.

Ireland laid the foundations for victory in a superb second quarter performance, with Kieran Donaghy and Enda McGinley goals adding to overs from Cavanagh and Paul Finlay.

Australia, as expected, came back at the visitors with typical fury at the start of the second half and David Gallagher conceded his first goal of the series after a horrible scramble in the Irish square saw the ball pop out from a ruck of players and dribble over the line for a fortuitous goal.

Australia were within seven points as the third quarter ended, but Coulter, the Mayobridge hitman, grabbed his seventh international goal after Michael Meehan had stolen possession and chipped the ball to his team-mate, who shot low past Michael Firrito, the Australian goalkeeper.

As if to reassert Ireland's dominace, Donaghy sent a lovely curling shot straight between the posts to re-establish a 17-point lead and what looked like a certain series win.

However, on a dirty night in Melbourne, the capricious wind turned once more and Australia found they had the adavantage for the final 18 minutes.

An Australian fightback was always expected, and it came like clockwork. Petrie, the giant forward, grabbed two fine overs within three minutes of the restart. Then Burgoyne made it a three-point game when he fired low past Gallagher after Motlop had set him up following a jinking run through the Irish defence.

But Coulter, the man Ireland have looked to for vital goals in the last two series, was not finished, and when Donaghy caused havoc in the Australian square again, he was on hand to apply the finish.

The final 10 minutes was a thrilling affair, with the home side attacking desperately to claw their way back into the game. Petrie caused panic when he found a six-pointer with two minutes remaining.

Despite concerted late pressure, Ireland held on for 57-53 win in another great game that will do more than anything to make sure that the hybrid game remains a fixture on the sporting calendar for years to come.