[caption id="attachment_67636" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Ireland's Brendan Murphy and Kevin Reilly are outnumbered by Australia's players during this confrontation."]
NO contest. That aptly summed up Ireland's 80 (4-17-5) to 36 (1-8-6) victory over Australia in the first of the International Rules series matches in Melbourne's Etihad Stadium.
Okay, Australia have named a somewhat controversial new look team but no one could have predicted that Ireland would bring a lead of 44 points into the second test. Certainly, the Australian coach Rodney Eade was stunned.
Maybe an over-confident Eade got it badly wrong both in terms of selection and in Australia's approach after winning last year's series in Ireland. Either way, Ireland blew his team away with an outstanding performance.
Even the only Australia goal, counting for six points, was a gift. Ireland's goalkeeper and skipper Stephen Cluxton sending a pass across his own goal that was intercepted by Brad Green.
No matter, Ireland quickly got back to business in a match they dominated throughout. There was precious little for manager Anthony Tohill to complain about, everyone did their job with veteran Steven McDonnell from Armagh finishing as top scorer with 18 points (1-4-0).
If there was a disappointment form Ireland's viewpoint, it was that only 22,921 turned up. Quite obviously, the rain didn't help and the authorities probably got it wrong with their choice of venue.
All of that, however, was beyond Ireland's control. What they were in control was getting their preparation exactly right, despite often difficult circumstances because of the clash with the club championships back in Ireland.
They achieved this superbly. It showed right from the kick-off, with the Irish team outplaying their rivals in every facet of the game.
To put their effort in perspective, this was the first time that 80 points has been scored since they did so in the inaugural series 27 years ago. Furthermore, it was only the third occasion ever that Ireland has managed four goals.
Worryingly for Australia, it could have been worse. Their policy of picking a smaller more agile team completely backfired as the struggled throughout.
No doubt, coach Eade's explosive post-match remarks about a lack of real determination and fitness on the part of his team will bring about an improvement for Friday's second test at the Gold Coast. But 44 points is surely an impossible target to pull back.
For the sake of the series though, it is important that the local side do an awful lot better.
Basically, Eade is looking for his side to restore some pride with a more determined and physical approach.
But that's not going to bother Tohill. "It's a hard physical game, that's what it's always been." answers the Irish manager. "We've no problem with it being hard and physical as long as it's within the rules."
Apart from one flare-up, it was all generally within the rules last Friday. Ireland won all four quarters moving the ball quickly and taking their chances when they came.
Significantly, their AFL-based players Tadgh Kennelly, Tommy Walsh and Pearce Hanley played major roles. Former Kerry Star Walsh finished with nine points.
Donegal's Martin Murphy was also top class, scoring 12, as did Wicklow's Leighton Glynn. Both of them contributed goals, Murphy's coming in the fourth minute.
Kieran Donaghy finished with seven on a day that every player, backs and forwards did their job. The story of the game is possibly best told by the scores in each quarter, all of which were in Ireland's favor.
They won the first quarter 22-4, the second 22-16, the third 15-6 and the fourth 27-6. You can't argue with those statistics.
Thankfully, there was also good news about Emmet Bolton. The Kildare man was discharged from hospital after taking a blow on the head during Friday's game.
So Tohill, who was ably assisted on the coaching front by Kieran McGeeney, has every reason to be pleased. "Yes, I am. We are relieved that all of the hard work we have put in has paid off. Barring a few things, it pretty much went our way."
Shefflin, for once, upstaged
THERE wasn't a lot even Henry Shefflin could do about James Stephens' 1-20 to 0-15 Kilkenny SHC final replay victory over Ballyhale Shamrocks at Nowlan Park on Sunday.
Shefflin had earned Ballyhale a dramatic draw with an injury time point first time around, but on this occasion James Stephens had eight points to spare. And Shefflin, for once, found him self upstaged, this time by his county colleague Eoin Larkin.
Larkin was quite brilliant in hitting 1-11 as James Stephens, know as the Village, took command in the second half. It was very close at the interval, with James Stephens only holding a 1-7 to 0-9 advantage.
Although James Stephens lost their captain Jackie Tyrrell, who was sent off along with Ballyhale's Colin Fennelly at the start of the second half, they drove on in impressive style to secure a memorable victory.
Shefflin did his best, contributing 0-7 but it was not enough to save his side on this occasion.
Elsewhere on the hurling front, Waterford's Ballygunner recorded a noteworthy 2-15 to 1-13 victory over Drom and Inch from Tipperary in the quarter-final of the Munster SHC at Semple Stadium.To be fair to Drom and Inch, they were not helped by the loss of a number of key players through injury and illness.
In the Dublin SHC final, Ballyboden St Enda's made it five in a row by demolishing O'Toole's 3-12 to 0-9, while Clarinbridge got the better of Craughwell 0-18 to 0-13 in the Galway SHC semi-final.
Dr. Crokes win in Kerry
COLM COOPER could be in line for the Kerry captaincy following Dr Crokes 2-8 to 0-9 victory over Mid Kerry in SFC final at Fitzgerald Park on Sunday.
It was Cooper who set the ball rolling by scoring a goal within the opening minute. Mid Kerry never fully recovered. "The Gouch" went on to finish with 1-3 as Dr Crokes always stayed ahead of their rivals.
Remarkably, it was Dr Crokes first back-to-back titles since 1913. Asked about the possibly of captaining Kerry, Cooper replied: "I haven't really thought about it. The club hasn't really discussed it either, so we will have to see what happens."
Elsewhere, Carofin beat Tuam Stars 0-16 to 1-6 in the Galway SFC decider, with Alan O'Donovan scoring 0-10, while St Patrick's got the better of Newtown Blues 1-12 to 0-9 in the Louth final.
The Ulster SFC quarter-finals brought victories for Crossmaglen Rangers and Ballinderry. Crossmaglen defeated Belfast St Gall's 3-9 to 2-5, with Derry's Ballinderry edging past Tyrone's Dromore in a smashing contest by 1-11 to 0-12.
The final of the Dublin championship will see St Brigid's facing their northside neighbours St Oliver Plunkett's/ Eoghan Ruadh. St Brigid's needed extra time to see off Ballymun Kickhams 1-18 to 1-12, while Bernard Brogan contributed 1-7 as St Oliver Plunkett's defeated Lucan Sarsfields by 1-12 to 1-8.
Irish take series
IRELAND treaveled to Inverness to defeat Scotland 2-9 to 1-11 and take the two-match shinty/hurling series by 3-25 to 3-19.
As expected, the Scots were a different proposition on their home turf and it took a 75th minute goal from Tipperary's Brendan Maher to settle matters. Laois's Willie Hyland was Ireland highest scorer, contributing 0-6.
Skipper Michael Rice (0-2) also played a big part, while Ireland's second goal was scored by Offaly's Joe Bergin.
