Ireland's International Rules team got off to a disastrous start as they fell to an emphatic 100-64 defeat to Australia in front of 39, 098 fans at Perth's Subiaco Oval.
Full-time:
Australia 100-64 Ireland
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Full-time: Ireland finish the game 36 points down on their explosive Australian opponents to leave Pete McGrath's men with a mountain to climb in Melbourne next Friday.
80 mins Cavanagh adds another well-taken goal late on with a high drive to the net.
79 mins Lovett claims his third over to take Australia's haul to 100. 100-57
78 mins Graham Canty is shown the yellow card to end his game.
77 mins Davis was found in acres of space on the right and he made no mistake to take the three-pointer
76 mins O'Neill should have done better again when he hit an over from eight yards with just the goalkeeper to beat. 94-57
74 mins Lovett claims an over after an excellent passage of play involving Harvey saw him evade three Irish challenges before hitting the crossbar. Lovett knocked over the rebound.
73 mins Clarke and Coulter combine to send the latter through for his second goal of the evening.
72 mins Hodge keeps his composure to hit his third over and stretch Australia's lead to 46 points. 91-45
70 mins Clarke should have added another three points from a central position but could only manage a point.
68 mins Cavanagh, who along with Coulter was one of few Irish players to shine, adds another three points.
66 mins Brent Harvey puts another three points on the scoreboard for Australia. 85-40
65 mins However, the Australians pace and power sees them score another over through Grant.
64 mins Sean Cavanagh refuses to give up the fight and hits an excellent three-pointer for McGrath's men.
62 mins McDonald adds a single point for a disillusioned, rhythmless Ireland.
61 mins Trent Croad scores a superb over.
THIRD-QUARTER: Australia 76-36 Ireland
60 mins Anthony Lynch penalised for holding Bradley in the area and concedes a penalty. Chris Johnson converts from his hands. 76-36
59 mins Amon Buchanan gets his first over of the evening. 70-36
58 mins Grant gets his first over with a close range free.
53 mins Coulter gave Ireland hope when Brian Dooher launched a high ball into the danger area and he rose highest to fist home for Ireland's first goal. 64-36
52 mins Nathan Eagleton broke through from midfield to add a superb over.
51 mins O'Keefe adds one point following a good build up by Australia.
49 mins Australia add another three points to give them a double score lead. 60-30
48 mins Lovett notches a further three points for a rampant Australia.
46 mins Gilbee adds another three points.
45 mins Giansiracusa adds a fine score after Australia gained possession thanks to a brilliantly executed tackle from Davey at half-way.
43 mins Robertson is shown a yellow card for a foul on Laois' Tom Kelly. He sits out the next 15 minutes.
42 mins Robertson capitalises on another poor Irish kick-out to add a single point.
41 mins Eoin Brosnan hits another one point for Ireland.
HALF-TIME: Australia 46-29 Ireland
40 mins Clarke adds his third three-pointer with a superb effort. 46-29
39 mins Coulter again fails to add three points from a free and has to settle for one point.
38 mins Lindsay Gilbee adds another over for Kevin Sheedy's men. 46-25
37 mins Another one point from an Irish player.
36 mins Colm Cooper, who was introduced midway through the quarter, can only manage a one-pointer from a free. 42-24
32 mins Andrew Lovett scores the game's first goal, sneaking in behind the Irish defence to fist home from close range. 42-23
31 mins Hodge adds his second over of the match from a free kick.
29 mins Clarke adds another fine over for Ireland from play to reduce the deficit to 33-23.
27 mins Ronan Clarke scores his first three points for Ireland from a tight angled free on the left.
25 mins All-Australian Luke Hodge registers another excellent three points, who are dominating in most areas of the pitch.
24 mins Aaron Davey hits another three points.
24 mins Irish captain Padraig Joyce notches another one-pointer.
23 mins Shannon Grant stretches Australia's advantage further with a fine three-point score.
22 mins Stephen O'Neill responds with a similar tally for Ireland.
21 mins Russell Robertson hits a one-pointer for Australia.
1ST QUARTER: Australia 25-15 Ireland
20 mins A couple of one-pointers see Ireland close the gap to ten points at the end of the first quarter. Irish keeper Mickey McVeigh saved well to deny the hosts a certain goal before the break.
16 mins The impressive Chris Johnson and Aaron Davey add further three-pointers to 25-13 clear.
13 mins Benny Coulter and Lappin exchange three-pointers.
12 mins Lappin points for Australia from close range to go 16-10 ahead.
11 mins Mayo forward Kieran McDonald responds for Ireland with a well taken three-pointer.
11 mins Davis added another one-pointer from a close range free as the Australians' supposed inaccuracy in front of goal begins to look like a myth.
8 mins Daniel Giansiracusa retores Australia's lead with a fine three-pointer from 45 metres.
6 mins Stephen O'Neill and Mattie Forde hit back for Ireland to add to an earlier one-pointer as Pete McGrath's men take the lead for the first time 7-6.
3 mins Early scores from Matthew Lappin and Nick Davis see the hosts register six points.
Ireland: Mickey McVeigh (Down); Sean Óg O hAilpín (Cork), Graham Canty (Cork), Tomas O Se (Kerry); Ciaran McManus (Offaly), Tom Kelly (Laois), Bryan Cullen (Dublin); Ciaran McDonald (Mayo) (4), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone) (13); Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone) (9), Benny Coulter (Down) (18), Brian Dooher (Tyrone); Owen Mulligan (Tyrone), Padraig Joyce (Galway) (capt) (1), Matty Forde (Wexford) (3).
Subs used: Michael Meehan (Galway), Brian McGuigan (Tyrone), Eoin Brosnan (Kerry) (1), Anthony Lynch (Cork), David Heaney (Mayo), Ronan Clarke (Armagh)(14), Colm Cooper (Kerry) (1), Sean Martin Lockart (Derry).
Australia: D Fletcher; L Gilbee (4) D Millburn, B Delideo; D Morris, C Newman (3), M Lappin (3); B Harvey (3), N Davis (9); L Hodge (9), C Ciaracusa (3), N Eagleton (3); A Davey (6), C Johnson (co-capt) (9) R O’Keefe (8).
Subs used: A Lovett (15), R Robertson (2), K Bradley, S Grant (10), T Croad (9), K Black, A McLeod (co-capt), A Buchanan (4).
Referees: M James (Aus), D Coldrick (Ire)
