Wedding of games ferociously consummated

FROM THE ARCHIVE OCTOBER 22nd, 1984:As the countries met for the first time, PADDY DOWNEYwas on hand to describe the action, which was savage at times

NOW WE have a new slant on the problem of marital breakdowns. The wedding of two forms of football, half a world apart, was consummated with ferocity and there were many recriminations at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday when Australia beat Ireland by a margin of 13 points in the historic first Test match between the two countries.

Showing a vast improvement in their kicking of the Gaelic ball compared with their performance in Galway last Wednesday – when they lost to a Connacht selection – the Australians won by two goals (six points each) 15 overs (three points each) and 13 single points to Ireland’s four goals, eight overs and nine points.

The Galway match was shadow-boxing, a kid glove affair, in comparison with yesterday’s volatile engagement. The Irish players at the end of the day were overwhelmed by the touring team’s lethal combination of fierce tackling, superior fielding, ball control, positioning and fitness – and, not least, their ability to kick scores at long and short range from play and set pieces.

The match was excessively physical and in the third quarter erupted into a free-for-all which embroiled most of the players on both sides and a few intruders – substitutes and officials – from the sideline. The Australians appeared to forget or ignore the agreed rules governing the tackle and frequently pulled down opponents in possession of the ball. The short-arm tackle was used a few times with unfortunate results for the Ireland fullback, Mick Lyons, and substitute John Costello, who were taken off the field with concussion.

The neutral observer must, however, try to identify causes for the tourists’ tactics. They entered the match with an implacable will to win and, in their commitment to that objective, they often resorted to the tough physical contact which is a notable feature of their own Rules game.

The result was a succession of fouls under the composite rules agreed for this series, but it is only fair to assume many of their infringements were instinctive rather than deliberate. It must also be said the Irish players invited crunching tackles many times because of their tendency to dally in possession of the ball, especially when they chose to play on after taking a “mark”.

The Irish players appeared to be intimidated by their rivals’ remorseless physical approach at an early stage of the proceedings and thus lost the initiative in later man-to-man confrontations. Here a word of warning must be spoken. After the match the Irish officials, selectors and players were loudly critical of the Australians’ tactics. But people in glasshouses cannot afford to throw stones. The persistent fouling and rugby-type tackling of the Aussies are not alien to Gaelic football. We complain about them every week.

It was ironic that the free-for-all in the third quarter was caused by an Irish player. The centre-half back, Tom Spillane, pulled down an opponent and from that action erupted the fight, which, though vicious for a few moments, happily did not grow into a really embarrassing “international incident”.

The weather conditions did not help either. Rain fell all through the match, making the ground slippery and the ball greasy and difficult to handle.

Now to the other side of the coin. When the fouling is excepted, there was a great deal to admire in the quality of football played by both teams, and particularly by the Australians, who had made such a remarkable improvement since their midweek display in Galway.

Last Wednesday’s match was largely a “handball” affair but yesterday kicking, and very often excellent kicking, predominated. Play often flowed freely and swiftly and the Australians, all fine athletes, showed a remarkable degree of skill in their fetching and holding of the ball, their quick deliveries and pinpoint combination.

If the fouling problem can be sorted out – and this may be done when officials of both sides meet in Dublin on Tuesday night – the remainder of this series and the whole future of the internationals can be a success. Everything possible must be done to avoid “marital breakdown”.

Ireland started yesterday’s match in a dreadful quandary. Their chosen goalkeeper, Martin Furlong, turned up at Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a shoulder injury and informed the selectors he wished to withdraw from the team.

The Irish side’s problem, however, was that the selectors had not named a reserve goalkeeper. Dublin’s John O’Leary had been named as a standby player but did not travel to Cork and, in a state of panic, the selectors tried to contact the Kerry goalkeeper, Charlie Nelligan, in Castleisland to invite him to make a dash to take over from Furlong.

Nelligan could not be located, however, and Furlong was forced to line out with his left arm virtually useless. He played courageously, however, but his disability was responsible to some extent for Australia’s two goals which were scored by the midfielder Mark Lee and left-full forward, John Platen.

Ireland’s goals were scored by Jimmy Kerrigan, Matt Connor (from a penalty), both in the first quarter, and Barney Rock and substitute Brian O’Donnell in the fourth quarter.

Ireland had the better of the play, if not the tackling, in the opening quarter and, at the first interval, led by 17-9. At that stage, the attendance of nearly 8,000 people were feeling sympathy with the visitors whom they felt were destined for a heavy beating. But the scene changed quickly and in the second quarter the Australians jumped to a lead of 31 -20. In that period, Ireland scored only one over – equal to three points.

Ireland fought back again in the third quarter and when Connor scored his penalty goal, they had reduced their arrears to only three points (39-42). The Australians then regained control and were in no real danger of defeat at any time in the last quarter.

Their goalkeeper, Gary McIntosh, played outstandingly and, on three occasions, stopped what seemed certain to be Ireland goals. The tourists’ backs also played powerfully, with Brad Hardie, Gary Pert, Robert Flower and Murray Rance covering and fielding in splendid style. Maurice Rioli was an industrious midfielder while Craig Bradley, Ross Glendinning, Platten and substitute Stephen Kernehan and Michael Aish formed the powerhouse of their attack.

The indefatigable Jack O’Shea was a hero of the Irish team in spite of the heavy knock he received early in the first quarter.

There were also outstanding displays for the home team by Tom Spillane, Jimmy Kerrigan, Noel Roche and Séamus McHugh in defence and Eoin Liston and Dermot McNicholl in the forward division. Substitute Liam Tierney was also an outstanding figure on the Ireland team and Brian O’Donnell, when he came on, repeated the fine performance which he gave for Connacht last Wednesday.

AUSTRALIA: G McIntosh, C Holden, G Pert, B Hardie (3 points), R Dipierdomenico, M Rance, R Flower (4), M Lee (10), M Rioli (6), C Bradley (10), R Glendinning (10), A Daniels (1), S Malaxos (capt), T Daniher (2), J Platten (8). Subs: M Aish (9), P Motley, R Wiley, D Ackerley, S Kernehan (7), S Madden.

IRELAND: M Furlong (Offaly), N Roche (Clare), M Lyons (Meath), S McHugh (Galway), J Kerrigan (Cork) 6, T Spillane (Kerry), PJ Buckley (Dublin) 1, J OShea (Kerry) capt. 9, S Fahy (Kildare), B Rock (Dublin) 9, E Liston (Kerry) 13, D McNicholl (Derry) 4, C O’Rourke (Meath) 3, T ODwyer (Carlow), M O’Connor (Offaly) 6, Subs: S Walsh (Kerry), R Connor (Offaly), L Tierney (Longford), J Costello (Laois), L Hayes (Meath), B O’Donnell (Galway) 6. Liam Austin of Down, originally selected for midfield, cried off because of injury and was replaced by Shay Fahy.

Referees: F Murphy (Cork) and R Sawers (Australia).

Selectors critical of Aussies' tactics

THE IRELAND selectors and officals were highly critical of the Australian tactics after the match, writes Paddy Downey.

Peter McDermott, one of the selectors and manager of the home team, said: "I have been advocating this since 1968 but I will not do so any more on that basis. It was much too physical. That's not football."

The Irish coach, Liam Sammon, said that in spite of the unsatisfactory features of the match, there were some great phases of football. But it was far too physical: "Something must be done about the Australians' tackling. Fortunately we suffered no serious injuries although Mick Lyons and John Costello both have concussions," he said.

Another selector, Jody O'Neill, said: "I have seen less dangerous tackling in the roughest of rugby matches. We will have to review the whole matter with the Australians when we meet them in Dublin on Tuesday. It was very disappointing to send Irish players out for an international match and see them suffer those indignities."

The fourth selector, Eamonn Young, admitted that he called Rowan Sawyers' refereeing "disgraceful" when he entered the field at the time of the third quarter row. He also admitted he was ordered back to the line by the Australian referee.

"Ireland played according to the rules but the Australians broke them deliberately for the sake of winning," added Young.

Australian tour manager Ed Biggs said that he was very pleased with Australia's win and their "positive approach" to the game compared with their performance in Galway.

"We learned from our mistakes in the midweek match," he said. "We attacked the ball today and we succeeded in scoring. We practised hard with the round ball since Wednesday and the result was seen in our kicking today."