CAPTAIN BERNARD BROGAN led by example as Ireland held on in tense circumstances at Croke Park to regain the Cormac McAnallen Cup as International Rules test winners.
The Dublin attacker blasted 13 points and was the man who hit a vital behind late on as Australia did their best to fight back and hold onto the title.
The visiting Aussies turned a 20-point half-time deficit into just a three-point gap late in the fourth quarter.
But in front of 38,386, Joe Kernan’s Ireland side held on bravely and Brogan applied the insurance point with a late, late behind.
Monaghan’s Conor McManus top scored with 17 points while Mayo star Aidan O’Shea hit 15 including two crucial goals.
Kernan predicted the ‘toughest test ever’ on Friday afternoon though it was nothing of the sort initially.
The Armagh legend was brimming with delight as his side took a surprise 20-point lead after two quarters, 43-23.
O’Shea and Brogan provided 27 of those points between them with the Mayo AllStar helping himself to 15.
The Breaffy powerhouse blasted a goal at the beginning of each quarter and punched the air in delight at his first four minutes in.
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It was a bitterly cold evening in Dublin but the teams produced an entertaining affair. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
He capitalised on great work by McManus and Brogan and was played in by Brogan for his second also.
McManus’ 30th minute six-pointer came from the penalty spot after Donegal man Paddy McBrearty was slammed into the past.
Ireland were capitalising on the huge amount of space being left in the Australian full-back line. At times, Brogan found himself gloriously isolated and was able to pick off four first-half overs at his ease.
Australia pride themselves on their strong third quarter displays and started well with Leigh Montagna and David Mundy overs.
But they were quickly cancelled out by efforts from McManus and Monaghan team-mate Darren Hughes.
Australia did ultimately reduce their deficit to 11 points with a quarter to go however. That was mainly down to the excellence of AFL superstar Nick Riewoldt who nailed two overs later in the quarter and a behind.
It set up a tense final quarter with Ireland leading 50-39, a healthy advantage but not insurmountable.
Alastair Clarkson’s touring side showed real character to cut the gap to just three points after a Jake Stringer goal but that was as good as it got for them.
Scorers for Ireland: Aidan O’Shea 15, Conor McManus 17, Bernard Brogan 13, Diarmuid Connolly 4, Lee Keegan 3, Darren Hughes 3, Paul Kerrigan 1.
Scorers for Australia: Nick Riewoldt 10, Robbie Gray 10, Eddie Betts 8, Jake Stringer 7, Luke Breust 4, Jarryd Roughead 3, Hayden Ballantyne 3, Leigh Montagna 3, David Mundy 3, Tom Rockliff 1.
Jack McCaffrey with Roie Gray and Hayden Ballantyne of Australia. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Brogan leads the way as Ireland hold on to record Rules win over Australia
Ireland 56 (3-11-5)
Australia 52 (1-13-7)
CAPTAIN BERNARD BROGAN led by example as Ireland held on in tense circumstances at Croke Park to regain the Cormac McAnallen Cup as International Rules test winners.
The Dublin attacker blasted 13 points and was the man who hit a vital behind late on as Australia did their best to fight back and hold onto the title.
The visiting Aussies turned a 20-point half-time deficit into just a three-point gap late in the fourth quarter.
But in front of 38,386, Joe Kernan’s Ireland side held on bravely and Brogan applied the insurance point with a late, late behind.
Monaghan’s Conor McManus top scored with 17 points while Mayo star Aidan O’Shea hit 15 including two crucial goals.
Kernan predicted the ‘toughest test ever’ on Friday afternoon though it was nothing of the sort initially.
The Armagh legend was brimming with delight as his side took a surprise 20-point lead after two quarters, 43-23.
O’Shea and Brogan provided 27 of those points between them with the Mayo AllStar helping himself to 15.
The Breaffy powerhouse blasted a goal at the beginning of each quarter and punched the air in delight at his first four minutes in.
He capitalised on great work by McManus and Brogan and was played in by Brogan for his second also.
McManus’ 30th minute six-pointer came from the penalty spot after Donegal man Paddy McBrearty was slammed into the past.
Ireland were capitalising on the huge amount of space being left in the Australian full-back line. At times, Brogan found himself gloriously isolated and was able to pick off four first-half overs at his ease.
Australia pride themselves on their strong third quarter displays and started well with Leigh Montagna and David Mundy overs.
But they were quickly cancelled out by efforts from McManus and Monaghan team-mate Darren Hughes.
Australia did ultimately reduce their deficit to 11 points with a quarter to go however. That was mainly down to the excellence of AFL superstar Nick Riewoldt who nailed two overs later in the quarter and a behind.
It set up a tense final quarter with Ireland leading 50-39, a healthy advantage but not insurmountable.
Alastair Clarkson’s touring side showed real character to cut the gap to just three points after a Jake Stringer goal but that was as good as it got for them.
Scorers for Ireland: Aidan O’Shea 15, Conor McManus 17, Bernard Brogan 13, Diarmuid Connolly 4, Lee Keegan 3, Darren Hughes 3, Paul Kerrigan 1.
Scorers for Australia: Nick Riewoldt 10, Robbie Gray 10, Eddie Betts 8, Jake Stringer 7, Luke Breust 4, Jarryd Roughead 3, Hayden Ballantyne 3, Leigh Montagna 3, David Mundy 3, Tom Rockliff 1.
Ireland
1. Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
10. Eoin Doyle (Kildare)
25. Rory O’Carroll (Dublin)
22. Philly McMahon (Dublin)
15. Lee Keegan (Mayo)
5. Eoin Cadogan (Cork)
19. Jack McCaffrey (Dublin)
3. Gary Brennan (Clare)
29. Michael Quinn (Longford)
9. Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone)
33. Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin)
31. Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry)
23. Conor McManus (Monaghan)
28. Aidan O’Shea (Mayo)
4. Bernard Brogan (Dublin)
Interchange players: 2 Colm Begley (Laois), 11 Peter Harte (Tyrone), 13 Darren Hughes (Monaghan), 17 Paul Kerrigan (Cork), 20 Ciaran McDonald (Tipperary), 26 John O’Loughlin (Laois), 34 Paul Cribbin (Kildare), 35 Patrick McBrearty (Donegal).
Australia
1. Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle)
2. Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs)
3. Andrew Gaff (West Coast)
4. Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
5. Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
6. Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs)
7. Harry Taylor (Geelong)
8. Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs)
9. Brendon Goddard (Essendon)
10. Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
11. Leigh Montagna (St Kilda)
12. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
14. Grant Birchall (Hawthorn)
15. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
16. David Mundy (Fremantle)
18. Eddie Betts (Adelaide)
21. Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
22. Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
31. Dustin Fletcher (Essendon)
32. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
38. Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions)
40. Nick Smith (Sydney Swans)
Referees: J McQuillan (Cavan), Matthew Nicholls (Australia).
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International Rules International Rules 2015 Report