Visitors fail to test merciless Ireland

Women's International Rules/ Ireland 130; Australia 15: The first test of the inaugural TG4 International Women's Rules series took place at Breffni Park yesterday afternoon. It turned out, however, to be a completely one-sided affair, with the Irish girls in dominant mood from start to finish.

On a cold, blustery afternoon the Australians were always playing catch-up and the Irish girls scored freely - notably Meath's Mary Sheridan, Mayo's Cora Staunton, Down's Michaela Downey, Laois's Lorraine Muckian and Limerick's Dympna O'Brien, all of whom scored more than 10 points each.

Jarlath Burn's charges scored eight goals during the demolition, with the Australian team managing just one in reply. The Irish management team also contains Meath's Geraldine Sheridan, Kerry's Robbie Griffin, Galway's Pat Costello and Armagh's Hayley Boyle.

The second Test is due to take place under lights in Parnell Park on Saturday at 7.30pm.

SCORERS - Ireland: Mary Sheridan 18 points; Cora Staunton 15; Lorraine Muckian, Dympna O'Brien, Michaela Downey 12 each; Geraldine Doherty, Maireád Morrissey 9 each; Patricia Gleeson 8; Sinead Ahern 7; Aoibheann Daly, Bronagh O'Donnell, Caroline O'Hanlon, Bronagh Sheridan, Angela Walsh 3 each; Anne Marie McDonagh 2; Alma O'Donnell, Sarah O'Connor, Angela Walsh 1 each. Australia: Cathy Zacharopoulos 7; Daisy Pearse, Shelley Matcham 3 each; Shannon McFearan, Talai Owen 1 each.

IRELAND: Cliona O'Connor (Dublin), Sinead Ahern (Dublin), Rena Buckley (Cork), Aiobheann Daly (Galway), Geraldine Doherty (Meath), Michaela Downey (Down), Patricia Fogarty (Laois), Patricia Gleeson (Galway), Christina Heffernan (Mayo) Norita Kelly (Cork), Brianne Leahy (Kildare), Caoimhe Marley (Armagh), Anne Marie McDonagh (Galway), Maireád Morrissey (Tipperary), Lorraine Muckian (Laois), Una Carroll (Galway) Juliette Murphy (Cork), Dympna O'Brien (Limerick) Sarah O'Connor (Kerry), Alma O'Donnell (Armagh), Brona O'Donnell (Armagh), Mary O'Donnell (Waterford), Caroline O'Hanlon (Armagh), Brona Sheridan (Cavan), Mary Sheridan (Meath), Jackie Shields (Meath), Cora Staunton (Mayo), Angela Walsh (Cork), Gráinne Ní Fhlatharta (Kerry).

AUSTRALIA: Joanne Butland, Anna Haynes, Moana Hope, Emma Hender, Renae Campbell, Angela Doyle, Belinda Blay, Shelley Matcham, Sarah Hammond, Shannon McFearon, Anna McIlroy, Janine Milne, Pia Kilburn, Cathy Zacharopoulos, Lydia Padgett, Daisy Pearse, Jane Clifden, Julia Boyle, Lauren Tesoriero, Michelle Dench, Penny Cula-Reid, Meg Hutchins, Katherine Pender, Talei Owsen, Kerryn Stevens.