E-mail - sportonline@rte.ie
By James McMahon
2043 So that's it for the opening joust in the latest Ireland v Australia instalment. Join us next week for part two and for Micháel O'Muircheartaigh's final commentary for RTÉ Radio.
2041 Aussie fans are clebrating on the pitch in Limerick. Their side were the more accomplished throughout and will now look forward to sealing the deal at GAA HQ.
2040 Australia deservedly hold the advantage going into next Saturday's second test. The late thrust from Ireland brought some welcome scores and the tie is still alive ahead of Croke Park next Saturday.
73 min Tommy Walsh hits a one-pointer when it should have been three. Siren goes when the ball is kicked out.
72 min Leighton Glynn bears down on the Aussie goal. His effort is blocked and now the Aussies are panicking. Ireland could do with a few more scores. Dustin Fletcher, the Aussie keeper, makes a fine save.
71 min Ireland's gander is up and Kevin McKiernan sweeps forward and hits over athree-pointer.
70 min Michael Murphy has a chance to build on Brogan's score but his effort from 30 yards yields nought.
69 min Ireland can't get past the half-way line. But just as I write Bernard Brogan comes rampaging through and his shot hits the roof of the net. Great run from the Dubliner. Why have we not seen more of that.
68 min Aussie go raiding again and Betts kicks unmarked for a 1-pointer. From the kick-out Adam Goodes, again unmarked adds to the tally with a behind.
67 min Stevie Mac from Armagh kicks the best score of the night from 45 yards and the over increases the decible level in Limerick.
66 min The crowd are certainly doing their best to urge on the Irish as Sean Kavanagh again fires one in for a single pointer.
64 min Should have had our first goal of the night and Adam Goode's fisted effort comes off the post for an over with only Cluxton to beat.
62 min Sean Kavanagh is fouled and his kick yields an over. I still think they need a goal. Meath's Kevin Reilly puts himself about.
61 min Ireland coughing up possession very easily. Disjointed effort all round as they are penalised for a 'fifth handpass.
59 min Cross adds another point. Aussies well worth their lead.
58 min Daniel Cross from 35 metres out and his kick yields an over. Not much to cheer from the Irish side in the early stages of this last quarter.
56 min Stephen Cluxton emerges from his goal and goes up the field. The crowd react positively.
55 min Early chance for another 3 for Oz, but Matthew Boyd kicks badly for a 1-pointer
2021 Final quarter gets underway.
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2017 No doubt about who is in control here. The Aussie look more comfortable on the ball and are keeping possession better. Just saw a shot of Irish manager Anthony Tohill. He's not a happy camper and who could blame him.
55 min Fine mark from Leighton Glynn and he pops over a three-pointer as the third quarter comes to a close.
54 min Ireland seem to be playing like individuals and their kicking is, at times, woeful as Kade Simpson adds to the Aussie tally with a 1-pointer. Ireland will need to find the net if they are to claw themselves back into this.
53 min That man Montagna is in the groove and hits a successive over to give the boys from Down Under a 12-point advantage.
52 min Good play by the Aussies as Eddie Betts round a fine movement with an over. The visitors in command and pulling ahead.
51 min Aussie stretch their advantage as Leigh Montagna hits over superb three-pointer. Emmet Bolton and Niall McNamee now on the pitch for Ireland.
48 min Kennelly back on the pitch and he makes a fine mark. He feeds Tommy Walsh and his kick yields an over. That's a bit more like it.
46 min Matthew Boyd gets the first score of the second half - a 1 pointer.
44 min Murphy's first chance for a score finds the inviting arms of the Aussie custodian. Still awaiting a score as the visitors seem content to play keep ball. A bit early for that, I would have thought.
43 min Ireland, quite simply, can't get their attacking unit going. A few Aussie kicks have dropped kindly into Stephen Cluxton's hands.
41 min Aussie have plenty of possession and have achance to add to their tally but Dave Swan's effort comes to nought. Michael Murphy of Donegal on for Ireland. Good target man if he is used properly.
39 min Second half starts with some scrappy play as the Aussies prove adept at getting the hand in.
37 min If this were a gaelic football match, Ireland would be trailing by 0-07 to 0-03. Quite simply, the Irish forward play has been poor. Tadhg Kennelly not on for the second half.
1958 Second half is underway.
1952 Seán in Achill has been in contact and says: 'Ireland are using far more handpasses than Australia but they also seem to be playing it on the ground a lot. Should be an interesting last two quarters.' Let's hope you're right Seán!
1943 Half-time in Limerick and I'll still go with 5 out of 10 on the entertainment scale. The Irish have not orchestrated many free-flowing moves and their kicking has been poor. Somthing of a challenge match about proceedings.
36 min The siren goes for half-time, but Australia have been awarded a free and it will be kicked. Todd Banfield's effort comes off the bar for an over to push the visitors five clear.
35 min Eddie Betts kicks over his first 3 pointer of the match to put the Aussies back in front. They seem to be gaining the upper hand again.
34 min It's still a tame enough affair. Not enough cut and thrust; physicality, you would have to say.
32 min Four handpasses are allowed before a player must offload the ball. A few times tonight a fifth handpass has crept in.
31 min Sean Cavanagh's kicking is a little bit wayward tonight, yet he is adding to his team's tally with one pointers.
30 min First bit of decent high fielding award of the night goes to Australia's Adam Goodes and he levels the game with an over.
29 min Ireland now settling into it and Goulding's presence is paying dividends and he hits a fine over and the hosts go back in front.
27 min Jack Riewoldt for the Aussies with a fine mark, but his effort in front of goal is a poor one. Markmanship is not good so far as Sean Kavanagh's long rang punt yields Ireland a point. The sides are level.
26 min The Aussie keeper Dustin Fletcher looks very assured between the posts.
25 min Kennelly is now a more potent presence in the middle sector, with Daniel Goulding from Cork now on to partner him.
24 min Ireland raiding with menace with Leighton Glynn in the clear and bearing down on goal. An earlier infringement means the play has to come back. Tadhg Kennelly hits a one pointer when it should have been three.
22 min Clarke gets on the scoreboard with a one pointer as Ireland edge closer.
20 min Ireland start with purpose and Tommy Walsh loses possession when a goal looked on. Marty Clarke of Down is making his presence felt. Will he return Aussie Rules.
1924 Second quarter is underway.
1920 End of first quarter. Entertainment value out of 10 - giving it a 5 would be generous.
18 min Stevie pops up again. He gets a mark and from 40 yards out he hits an over. Good end to the quarter for Ireland
17 min Stevie McDonnell gets some room at last and his long range effort yields just one point.
16 min Ireland struggling with their formation. could they have don with a warm up game?
15 min Todd Banfield from Brisbane chips in with a three pointer as the visitors cut through the Irish defence.
14 min Daniel Cross kicks an over for Australia. But where was the marking? The visitors quite adept at handling the round ball so far.
12 min Tadhg Kennelly has been quiet so far as the Aussies keep possesion well. Ireland need to tighten up on the marking.
9 min James Frawley with an Aussie over to put them ahead. They look pretty fit, so it's important they don't build up a significant lead early on as they tend to finish these matches strongly if the Irish want to make a game of it.
8 min A lot of 'football' being played so far in a match that has not caught fire.
7 min Bernard Brogan is showing well so far and he feeds Sean Cavanagh who kicks over a 1 pointer.
6 min Ireland free for what I don't know. Finds Bernard Brogan with a mark and he hits an over (3)
4 min Graham Canty pulled up for taking more than six steps. Adam Goodes takes the free and slots it over for a three pointer.
4 min Aussies yet to find any rhythm in a game watched by approx 30,000 people. Good attendance.
3 min A long punt from Meath's Kevin Reilly decives the Aussie keeper and bounces off the post for 1 point.
2 min First attack of the game fails to yield a score for Ireland. Sean Cavanagh with the effort.
1900 Game on.
1859 Both teams in a huddle. The excitement of it all as a loud cheer goes up as players take their positions. It's a still evening in Limerick city.
1857 Just to explain a goal is worth 6 points - a point in GAA terms is worth 3 and an effort outside of the main points is 1 point.
1855 Dermot Flynn in Connecticut, USA wishes both sides the best of luck tonight.
1851 In fairness she does a good rendition of both anthems. Teams exchange handshakes.
1849 Cheers Tadhg P. The teams are out on the pitch. It's great to see thr stands at the Gaelic Grounds full with people. The atmosphere is good as the Australian national anthem is sung by a young female - who could almost pass for Dana in her youth.
1847 Tadhg Peavoy signing off here for the minute - I'll hand you over to James McMahon - otherwise known in the RTÉ Sport locale as J-Mac.
1845 The match is but 15 minutes away now and a giant Aussie flag is being waved around by some schoolkids.
1840 The reduction of the quarter lengths from 20 to 18 minutes will also favour Ireland one would imagine - the 80-minute period is what Aussies are used to from their national sport. The 72 minutes is more in line with Gaelic football's 70-minute match length.
1838 The Aussie camp has been reinforcing the idea that they have picked a smaller, quicker team than they normally would. This could lead to a more skill v skill encounter - as opposed to a brawn v brains style clash; we'll see about that though.
1836 The talk this week has been of a clean game all around, let's hope that is the case. A bad-tempered Test will do nothing for the chances of having a rematch in 2012.
1834 Time ticking down to throw-in in Limerick. We'll bring you team news when we get it officially.
1832 Hi Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh,
I WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL THE IRISH PLAYERS BEST OF LUCK TONIGHT AND ALSO WISH YOURSELF A GOOD CALL
Teams:
IRELAND: S Cluxton, C Begley, B Brogan, G Canty, S Cavanagh, M Clarke, B Donaghy, L Glynn, D Goulding, F Hanley, J Kavanagh, T Kennelly, S McDermott, S McDonnell, C McKeever, K McKiernan, B Murphy, K Reilly, M Shilelds
AUSTRALIA: D Fletcher, B Gibbs, J McVeigh, D Cross, M Boyd, K Simpson, J Frawley, J Riewoldst, G Ibbotson, L Montagna, S Gilbert, K Jack, T Banfield, B Green, E Betts, P Dangerfield, Dane Swan, A Goodes, D Wojcinski, P Duffield
FROM BRYAN MANGAN FROM MALLOW BUT NOW LIVING IN HOUSTON TEXAS.
18.10 It's about 50 minutes or so from throw-in in Limerick. I'm sure the nation is holding its breath ahead of the opening Test. Opinion is divided on the merits of this fusion of two sports. What's your view?
1745 Since it's been so long, here is a reminder of some of the rules.
There are four quarters in the game, each comprising of 18 minutes.
There are 15 players on each side, they play with a Gaelic football and the 'mark', which has debuted in Gaelic games, is also used.
There are a lot more to follow, but we'll discuss them as we go.
1735 It has been four years since the last International Rules game.
It is pretty difficult to judge how the game will go, so let Seamus Leonard try to influence your opinion with this preview.
1730 Welcome to coverage of the first International Rules Test at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
