AUSSIES BEAT US TO PUNCH

AUSTRALIA 53 IRELAND 50

AUSTRALIA completed a two Test IRS clean sweep of Ireland in Perth to regain the Cormac McAnallen trophy.

The hosts overcame the half-time sending-off of Joel Selwood and a 16-point third-quarter deficit to win their first two Test IRS since 2010.

Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko triggered wild celebrations amongst the Australians in the Perth crowd when, with just 35 seconds remaining, he intercepted the ball, ran, and completed a left-foot over to give Australia a deserved 53-50 win at Domain Stadium.

Ireland started brightly with goals for Clare’s Gary Brennan and Mayo’s Chris Barrett to erase the host’s 10-point advantage from the first Test with just eight first-quarter minutes on the clock.

By quarter-time the home side had clawed back Ireland’s lead to six-points but Australia’s attempts to break the game open were thwarted by the visitors’ defence.

Australia were denied a clear penalty when Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield was brought down in the box

Ireland’s precision at kick-outs was pivotal in helping to build another handy lead, but just before half-time, Selwood was high and late on Barrett, was given his marching orders with a black card, and both sides began brawling with fists thrown until they were separated with Ireland booed off the field.

The Geelong captain’s sending off left Australia with just three players on the bench as opposed to eight on Ireland’s.

Advantage Ireland - or so it seemed until Australia wrestled control in the third term, when Fyfe again proved

Ireland’s undoing.

The Fremantle star, who practiced his soccer skills in Spain before the series, set up a goal for Zorko, took a strong mark and booted a crucial goal, before taking another stunning mark on his home deck.

Despite Australia’s dominance, Monaghan’s Conor McManus booted his fourth over to reduce Ireland’s deficit to seven points at three-quarter time.

Australia took the lead for the first time in the match 11 minutes into the final term, when West Coast’s Luke Shuey kicked an over from a tight angle to give the home team a 46-45 advantage.

Scores were tied at 50-all until Zorko’s heroics sealed Australia’s win.

UNDER THE COSH Things get a little heated in Perth as Oz claimed a win