1984
The Inaugural Series – 1984
Reproduced from the Official International Rules Series Programme, October 1998
The Australians opened the GAA Centenary year (1984) visit to Ireland with a match against a Connacht selection at Pearse Stadium, Galway, where they lost before 8,000 spectators by 68 points to 54 points.
The Western team included players from all provinces, other than Ulster.
Ulster beat Australia after the first Test match by 78-28 at Armagh with an all-Northern team.
In the inaugural series a goal was worth five points and an over three points.
October 21 - 1st Test
Australia 70 d. Ireland 57
The historic first test, which attracted an attendance of 8,000 to Pairc Ui Chaoimh, will be remembered more for the ugly row which took place in the third quarter rather than the infrequent patches of great football. Australia won the game by two goals, 15 overs and 13 points to four goals, eight overs and nine points but their tackling left a lot to be desired. For the first half the Irish seemed to prepared to put up with the rougher aspects of the visitors play, but by the third quarter their patience had worn thin.
Tom Spillane was the catalyst as his good run was stopped by a high tackle and as he proceeded to give as good as he received players from both sides, including substitutes from the sideline, joined in.
As for the game itself, the home side started promisingly and by the end of the first quarter they had moved into an eight point lead. However, the Australians turned on the power in the second quarter and outscored their opponents by 22 points to three to leave them 11 points clear at the half-time hooter. Twenty minutes later at the end of the third Ireland had reduced their arrears by just a single point - 39 to 49 - and although the Aussies pulled well clear in the early stages of the fourth, two late Irish goals put some respectability on the scoreboard.
Garry McIntosh in the Australian goal was the star of their victory and others to impress were Gary Pert, Brad Hardie, Murray Rance, Maurice Rioli, Ross Glendinning and Craig Bradley. For Ireland Martin Furlong guarded his net well while Seamus McHugh, Jimmy Kerrigan and Tom Spillane defended stoutly. Jack O’Shea was his usual self in midfield while Eoin Liston and Matt Connor were the pick of the forwards.
Australia scorers: C. Bradley (10), R. Glendinning (10), M. Lee (10), M. Aish (9), J. Platten (8), S. Kernahan (7), M. Rioli (6), R. Flower (4), B. Hardie (3), T. Daniher (2), A. Daniels (1).
Ireland: E. Liston (13), B. Rock (9), J. O'Shea (9), J. Kerrigan (6), M. Connor (6), B. O'Donnell (6), D. McNicholl (4), C. O'Rourke (3), P.J. Buckley (1).
Australia: G. McIntosh, C. Holden, G. Pert, B. Hardie, R. Dipierdomenico, M. Rance, R. Flower, M. Lee, M. Rioli, C. Bradley, R. Glendinning, A. Daniels, S. Malaxos, T. Daniher, J. Platten.
Inter-change: F. Motley, R. Wiley, M. Aish, D. Ackerley, S. Kernahan, S. Madden.
Ireland: M. Furlong, N. Roche, M. Lyons, S. McHugh, J. Kerrigan, T. Spillane, P.J. Buckley, J. O'Shea, S. Fahy, B. Rock, E. Liston, D. McNicholl, C.O'Rourke, T. Dwyer, M. Connor. Inter-change: S. Walsh, R. O'Connor, L. Tierney, J. Costello, L. Hayes, B. O'Donnell.
October 28 - 2nd Test
Ireland 80 d. Australia 76
A week later Ireland levelled the series at Croke Park with an exciting four point win in front of 12,500 spectators. The Irish score was made up of three goals, 17 overs and 11 points to Australia’s one goal, 17 overs and 19 points. The outcome was in doubt throughout the contest with Ireland eking out a slender 16-15 lead after the first quarter before edging 40-34 ahead at the break. By the end of the third they were still ahead 65-60, but with just two minutes remaining of the fourth the sides were tied at 76 points each, although the Australians should have been a couple of points ahead as Stephen Kernahan scored a single when he should have had an over (three points) and another single quickly followed to give the home side victory.
Although the tackling was on the robust side, the nasty and niggling elements from the first game were absent and for this a lot of credit must go to the visitors. However, even the home players were not averse to pulling and dragging, but overall the spectacle was a big improvement on the first test.
Best for the Irish were Colm O’Rourke, Mick Lyons, Jimmy Kerrigan, Dermot McNicholl, Jack O’Shea and Brian O’Donnell while the outstanding Australian player was Stephen Malaxos. He was ably supported by Maurice Rioli, Brad Hardie, Stephen Kernehan, Terry Daniher and Ross Glendinning.
Ireland scorers: C. O'Rourke (18), B. Rock (10), D. McNicholl (10), L. Austin (8), J. Kerrigan (7), B. O'Donnell (6), M. Martin (6), S. Fahy (4), J. O'Shea (4), L. Tierney (3), G. Blaney (2), P.J. Buckley (1), N. Roche (1).
Australia: R. Flower (15), S. Malaxos (10), G. Healy (10), S. Kernahan (9), R. Glendinning (8), M. Rioli (7), M. Lee (4), M. Rance (3), C. Bradley (3), T. Daniher (2), R. Dipierdomenico (1), J. Platten (1), A. Daniels (1), R. Greene (1), B. Hardie (1).
Ireland: N. Roche, M. Lyons, S. McHugh, J. Kerrigan, T. Spillane, P.J. Buckley, J. O'Shea, S. Walsh, P. McGinnity, S. Fahy, D. McNicholl, B. Rock, C.O'Rourke, B. O'Donnell. Inter-change: L. Austin, L. Tierney, P. Donaghy, G. Blaney, F. McMahon, M. Martin.
Australia: G. McIntosh, C. Holden, G. Pert, R. Greene, B. Hardie, M. Rance, R. Dipierdomenico, S. Malaxos, T. Daniher, R. Flower, R. Glendinning, G. Healy, C. Bradley, M. Lee, J. Platten.
Inter-change: D. Ackerly, F. Motley, M. Aish, S. Kernahan, M. Rioli, A. Daniels.
November 4 - 3rd Test
Australia 76 d. Ireland 71
The biggest crowd of the series (32,318) was at Croke Park to see the deciding game and they saw the Australians triumph by five goals, 11 overs and eight points to one goal, 18 overs and 16 points.
The foundations for the Australian victory were laid in the opening ten minutes when they sprinted into a 14 points to one lead, but the Irish responded and by the end of the first quarter they led by 18-17. The second quarter was a more even affair with neither side having any great period of dominance and at the end of which the visitors led by the minimum margin - 36 to 35. The Aussies increased that lead to five points (61-56) by the end of the third quarter, but with just six minutes remaining the home side had regained the initiative and were in front by two points - 71-69. However, late overs by Daniels and healy allied with a single from Greene brought the visitors a victory they just about deserved.
However, on the down side, some of the rougher elements from the first test reappeared with three players sent off and a further six booked. The first major incident occurred in the second quarter when Eoin Liston and Garry McIntosh got into a disagreement and they were promptly joined by colleagues from either side in a nasty free for all after which six players - McIntosh, Terry Daniher, Liston, Shay Fahy, Liam Tierney and Mick Lyons - were booked. Amazingly nobody was sent off after that mass brawl but later Robert Dipierdomenico, Craig Bradley and Greg Blaney all got their marching orders in incidents far less violent than that early punch up.
In terms of performance Charlie Nelligan, Jimmy Kerrigan, P.J. Buckley, Jack O’Shea, Colm O’Rourke and Liam Austin were stars for Ireland while Stephen Malaxos, Maurice Rioli, Allen Daniels and John Platten were the outstanding performers on the Australian side.
- Forward to 1986
