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INTERNATIONAL RULES SECOND TEST/Australia 53 Ireland 57 :IN THE END it turned on one moment. After over an hour's well-behaved football - to the giddy relief of all sports administrators - the 2008 Toyota International Rules series ticked the other, admittedly smaller, box by hanging in the balance with about eight minutes left. Ireland had established a 17-point lead going into the final quarter at the MCG and proceedings had become almost desultory with the Australians looking too far behind, the second Test and the series with it were fizzling out.
As in the first Test a week previously however, the home side responded in the last quarter and cut the deficit to 10 (51-41). Then Ciarán McKeever misjudged a bounce and Daniel Motlop got a clear run through the middle. He weaved this way and that as he closed on goal before laying off a good pass to Shaun Burgoyne and his finish was crisp and tidy and suddenly Ireland were just four ahead and the momentum had drained away from them.
