2001 International Rules Series

2001 International Rules Series
Event International Rules Series
130–105 on aggregate, Ireland win series 2–0
First test
Date 12 October 2001
Venue Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Victoria
Referee Brett Allen (Australia)
Pat McEnaney (Ireland)
Attendance 48,121
Second test
Date 19 October 2001
Venue Football Park, Adelaide, South Australia
Referee Brett Allen (Australia)
Pat McEnaney (Ireland)
Attendance 31,713

The 2001 International Rules Series was the eighth annual International Rules Series and the fourth time a test series of international rules football has been played between Ireland and Australia since the series resumed in 1998.

The series was won by Ireland, who recorded their third series win in four attempts and their second on Australian soil.[1][2] The win marked Ireland's first clean sweep of the series, as they defeated the Australians in both test matches and recorded a 130–105 aggregate points winning margin.[3]

Fixtures

Series overview

The AFL appointed Garry Lyon as coach for Australia, for his first time as coach of the national team and also his only coaching appointment, whilst Brian McEniff ended his tenure as Ireland manager in the series. In the first test at the MCG, both teams traded overs as Irish captain Anthony Tohill scored twice over the bar following impressive marks in the forward line to leave the visitors 14-10 up at the first break. Australia then dominated a patch of 10 minutes in the second quarter, scoring 16 points to nil with Richmond midfielder Joel Bowden scoring twice and Brad Johnson and Simon Black chiming in as well. Ireland recovered to narrow the gap to 6 points at half time (28-22) yet gifted a start to Australia in the third quarter when Blake Caracella was left virtually unmanned in the attacking sector to latch on to a rebound off the post and knock it into the net for the game's first six pointer. Trailing by 10, Ireland hit back with an exchange between Graham Geraghty and Tohill resulting in the latter's hurried finish into the back of the net. Crowley and Earley combined for an over apiece for the visitors to leave scores level at 41-41 at the final break. Ireland then ran away with an unassailable lead six minutes into the final quarter, Brendan Devenney scoring a fine over before a remarkable solo goal from Kieran McGeeney which began with a 40-yard run from his own half and ended with a terrible flap from Australian keeper Simon Goodwin. The Australians kept up the pressure by scoring some important overs and reduced the margin to a more manageable six points by the end.[4]

With all to play for in the second test, it was Sydney Swans youngster Tadgh Kennelly who played the game of his life, scoring 5 overs and creating a handful of others, ensuring he would be man of the match. For Australia, the pick of the highlights was a Matthew Lloyd half-volleyed goal from 21 metres out in the second quarter. The first half was indeed a frenetic, free-flowing one; Ireland's Graham Geraghty soccer in past Goodwin into the back of the net early in the second quarter, whilst North Melbourne midfielder Brent Harvey scored two impressive overs in the first half. Ireland's impressive nous with the round ball was keeping them in touch, Tohill combining with a Kennelley midfield move to finish in the back of the net for Ireland in the first quarter. Australia led by a single point (33-32) at half time. Ireland made their move in the third quarter, Kennelley and Devenney scoring two overs apiece to stretch the margin which would have been much more if not for a fine Goodwin save to deny Seamus Moynihan. Australia lost composure as Caracella was binned for a head high tackle on Sean Marty Lockhart. Some late dominance by Padraig Joyce for Ireland saw their lead stretch to 12 at the final break (56-44). In the final, an all-in melee erupted for several minutes which resulted in Crowley and Hardwick each being binneds, though it failed to dampen the speed and skill of both teams who traded successive overs. Ireland pulled away late thanks to a mighty Kennelley effort from a long way out, leaving Australia 19 points adrift and the series now well and truly over as a contest. Australian publications wrote that Harvey was in everything in the middle of the ground, Stuart Maxfield had plenty of the ball but was plagued by poor disposal and Adam Goodes, Matthew Lappin and Matthew Lloyd played well up forward, despite the latter spurning a valuable goal chance in the third quarter.[5] The match finished in Ireland's favour 71-52.[6]

Matthew Lloyd was the winner of the Jim Stynes Medal for Australia and Darren Fay, who played a relentless role in defence was Player of the Series for Ireland.

Squads

Australia Ireland
Name Team Position Name Team Position
Darren Gaspar Richmond Cormac Sullivan Meath
Michael Voss (c) Brisbane Anthony Rainbow Kildare
Brad Ottens Richmond Darren Fay Meath
Jonathan Hay Hawthorn Seán Marty Lockhart Derry
Joel Bowden Richmond Eamonn O'Hara Sligo
Stuart Maxfield Sydney Séamus Moynihan Kerry
Josh Francou Port Adelaide Seán Óg De Paor Galway
Matthew Lappin Carlton Anthony Tohill Derry
Daniel Chick Hawthorn Darragh Ó Sé Kerry
Matthew Lloyd Essendon Pádraic Joyce Galway
Nick Stevens Port Adelaide Tadhg Kennelly Sydney Swans / Kerry
Simon Black Brisbane Michael Donnellan Galway
Craig Bradley Carlton Graham Geraghty Meath
Andrew McLeod Adelaide Dermot Earley Kildare
Darryl White Brisbane Johnny Crowley Kerry
Damien Hardwick Essendon Ciarán Whelan Dublin
Adam Ramanauskas Essendon Kieran McGeeney Armagh
Brent Harvey North Melbourne Ciaran McManus Offaly
Blake Caracella Essendon Cormac McAnallen Tyrone
David King North Melbourne Graham Canty Cork
Simon Goodwin Adelaide Brendan Devenney Donegal
Nigel Lappin Brisbane Mike Frank Russell Kerry
Adam Goodes Sydney Niall Buckley Kildare
Warren Tredrea Port Adelaide Coman Goggins Dublin
Matthew Nicks Sydney Francie Grehan Roscommon
Joel Smith Hawthorn Brendan Ger O'Sullivan Cork
Dermot McCabe Cavan

Matches

First test (12 October)

[7]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Australia 0.3.1 0.8.4 1.10.5 1.13.8 (53)
Ireland 0.4.2 0.6.4 1.10.5 2.13.8 (59)
Ireland won by 6 G.O.P G.O.P G.O.P G.O.P Final
Date Friday October 12, 2001
Scoring (AUS) Goals: Caracella

Overs: Goodes 3, Bowden 3, Harvey 2, Lloyd 2
Johnson, Black, Caracella

Scoring (IRL) Goals: Tohill, McGeeney

Overs: Devenney 4, Geraghty 3, Tohill 2,
Crowley, Earley, Kennelly, McAnallen

Best AUS: Bradley, J Johnson, Bowden, Nicks, McLeod
IRL: Geraghty, Devenney, Moynihan, Lockhart, Fay
Injuries Nil
Venue Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, VIC
Attendance 48,121
Umpires Brett Allen (Australia), Pat McEnaney (Ireland)

Second test (19 October)

[8]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Australia 0.4.3 1.8.3 1.11.5 1.13.7 (52)
Ireland 1.3.1 2.6.2 2.13.5 2.17.8 (71)
Ireland by 19 G.O.P G.O.P G.O.P G.O.P Final
Date Friday, October 19, 2001
Scoring (AUS) Goals: Lloyd

Overs: Lappin 3, Harvey 3, Lloyd 2,
Maxfield, Francou, Ottens, Smith, Goodes

Scoring (IRL) Goals: Geraghty, Tohill

Overs: Kennelly 5, Joyce 3, Devenney 2,
O'Sullivan 2, Crowley 2, Earley, Donnellan, Geraghty

Best AUS: Lappin, McLeod, Fletcher, Lovett, Gilbee

IRL: Kelly, McVeigh, Munnelly, Cavanagh, Canty

Injuries Nil
Venue Football Park, Adelaide, SA
Attendance 31,713
Umpires Brett Allen (Australia), Pat McEnaney (Ireland)

See also

References

  1. "International Rules – Series 8 – 2001– Australia". Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  2. "Tarik's International Rules Football". Archived from the original on 22 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-06.|
  3. "Ireland take series with emphatic win". RTÉ Sport (RTÉ). 19 October 2001. Brian McEniff ended his tenure as Ireland manager with a comprehensive 71–52 victory over Australia to take the International Rules series at Adelaide's Football Park this afternoon.
  4. Ireland destroy the Australians
  5. Australia v Ireland 2001
  6. Ireland destroy the Australians
  7. Australia v Ireland 2001
  8. Australia v Ireland 2001
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