1987

 

The Third Series – 1987

 

Reproduced from the Official International Rules Series Programme, October 199

 

Australia returned to Ireland in 1987 and recovered from a disappointing start to regain the Test series trophy.

 

October 18 - 1st Test
Ireland 53 d. Australia 51

 

Before an appreciative attendance of 15,532 at Croke Park, Ireland took the lead in the three-game series with an exciting two-point win over Australia. This was the first occasion on which Ireland had taken the opening game of the series having lost the previous two openers - in 1984 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and the previous year at the WACA Oval in Perth. The tourists elected to play with the slight breeze in the opening quarter, but despite having the majority of the play they turned over on level terms - 13 points each. Ireland’s principal score in the first quarter was a Kieran Duff goal and kudos must also go to John O’Leary for a brilliant save from Jim Stynes. Halfway through the second quarter the locals had pulled eleven points clear - 24-13 - mainly thanks to Jim Reilly’s six-pointer (goal) in which Pat Spillane, Greg Blaney and Dermot Nicholl were involved in the build up. However, the visitors finished the first-half scoring with an over (three points) and a single to leave it 24-17 at half-time. Making good use of the light breeze, Australia dominated the third quarter and Richard Osborne’s goal helped them into a 37-31 lead when the hooter signalled the last interval. Within three minutes of the resumption the Aussies had pulled 13 points clear (thanks to two overs and a single) and looked on course for victory. However, ten minutes later Ireland had fought back to level the scores at 47 all, with Blaney’s goal playing a major part after Australian goalkeeper Matt Campbell fumbled Mick Fagan’s long shot. Two more overs quickly followed to put the home side six clear but Australia replied with an over and should have equalised when Bruce Linder only managed a single from straight in front of the posts. Andrew Jaraman had a late chance of glory but he fired wide and Ireland clung on for an historic victory.

 

Star of the show for the home side was Greg Blaney who scored 17 points and he was well supported by Dermot McNicholl, Ger Lynch, Val Daly and Tom Spillane. For the losers Matt Campbell was outstanding and others to shine were Paul Roos, Bruce Lindsay, Jim Stynes, Tony McGuinness and top-scorer Richard Osborne. The Irish total was made up of three goals, seven overs and 14 singles while Australia replied with one goal, 11 overs and 12 points.

 

October 25 - 2nd Test
Australia 72 d. Ireland 47

 

After the first test defeat, Australian coach Neil Kerley warned that there was nothing more dangerous than an Australian with with his back to the wall and so it proved in this second test as the visitors hammered the home side by 25 points - the biggest winning margin in the series to date. The tourists, who had seemed somewhat subdued in the opening test, played 'some tough and winning football' but there were no ugly scenes until just before the end when, following a tangle at the Canal End, John Lynch was immediately sent off. Before an attendance of 15,485 the tourists led from start to finish and scored three goals, 14 overs and 12 singles in the 80 minutes while Ireland replied with three goals, six overs and 11 points. Indeed, Ireland’s return of just six overs was a particularly weak return and in the first quarter they just managed one at which stage they trailed by six points to 17.

 

By the half-time hooter that deficit had risen to 16 as the Aussies led by double scores 32-16. Four of the game’s six goals came in the third quarter with Australia’s Jim Stynes getting the first when he connected with Chris Lewis’s cross. Niall Cahalane replied with a major for the home side before Lewis shook off his role as provider to score Australia’s second. Just before the hooter Mick Lyons and Cahalane combined to set up Tom Spillane for a goal but at the end of the third quarter Ireland trailed by 31 to 52. Half-way through the fourth period Sean Wright killed the game with the tourists third goal when he punched a dropping ball over John O’Leary’s head and Pat Spillane had a consolation goal for the Irish near the end when his floated kick deceived Matt Campbell in the Australian goal. Despite that error Campbell was one of the Australian heroes while others who grabbed attention were Bruce Lindsay, Paul Roos, Tony McGuinness, Richard Osborne, Jim Stynes and Sean Wright. For Ireland Tom Spillane tried valiantly while John O’Leary, Noel Roche, Cahalane and Ger Lynch all played fine games.

 

November 1 - 3rd Test
Australia 59 d. Ireland 55

 

Before an attendance of 27,023 Australia took the third test and the series in an exciting but robust affair. The match was won and lost in the first quarter as the tourists raced into a 23 points to nil lead after eleven minutes. They added another three before the end of the quarter as Ireland finally found their feet to notch eight points of their own. After the resumption the Aussies continued to have the better of matters but Ireland fought back to reduce their arrears to 13 points (22-35) at the interval.

 

Although Ireland outscored their opponents in the third quarter they had only reduced the deficit by a single point to leave it 32 to 44 with 20 minutes to play. The only goal of the hour came late in injury time when Bernard Flynn fired home but it was too little too late as the Australians won by 14 overs and 17 single points to one goal, 13 overs and ten points.

 

The Irish players seemed mesmerised in the opening 30 minutes as the Australians quickly established their dominance but just prior to the break Pat Spillane scored two overs and a point and that was embellished by further overs from Flynn and Dermot McNicholl. However, the home side failed to build on this and despite having the majority of possession in the third quarter a couple of goal chances were missed and the slim chance of victory was gone.

 

Despite the very physical nature of the game just one player - Paul Roos - was sent off for a foul on Greg Blaney, who himself was lucky to escape the ultimate sanction for his reckless challenge on Gary Pert. Amazingly, Roos came back onto the pitch as an inter-change player to score a point, but despite this being against the rules none of the officials noticed. The man-of-the match award went to Australia’s Tony McGuinness and he was ably supported by Richard Osborne, Chris Lewis, Sean Wright, Gary Pert and Scott Salisbury while the afore-mentioned McGuinness was named player of the series. For Ireland Dermot McNicholl, Tom and Pat Spillane, Bernard Flynn, Bobby O’Malley and Tony Scullion performed best with the younger Spillane getting the Irish player of the series award.

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