Few envisaged an Irish international rules success, but the smart manner in which Sean Boylan’s charges performed at the fabled MCG on Friday was a reminder of the value of pace and power in sport.
When Ireland moved the ball at speed Australia couldn’t cope and it was a similar story when the locals bombed forward menacingly. Still Ireland just had the requisite savvy to claim a merited triumph despite the inevitably dodgy decisions that seem to be attached to the series.
An inconsistency remains with the refereeing, but Ireland remained cool to plunder a win that was celebrated merrily under the Melbourne night sky. It was a victory carved out by the visitors’ ability to perform in the style of a Gaelic Football outfit during their bursts of supremacy.
Finian Hanley, Graham Canty, and Kieran McKeever were sharp at the back, Colm Begley was pertinent throughout, while Sean Cavanagh, Benny Coulter, and Kieran Donaghy all delivered when the issue was delicately poised.
While there was much to regard in Ireland’s attacking, the improvement in the tackle area, and ability to deal with the Aussies’ physicality was equally substantial. Canty’s resourcefulness, especially in the final quarter, was immense.
So the climax provided plenty of heartening images as the constantly evolving Donaghy did the rounds, embracing the rugged McMahon brothers of Tyrone, who deprived Kerry of a third All-Ireland title in a row. The compromise game has its detractors, but the broad and contented smiles of the touring party demonstrated that this conquest mattered to the protagonists.
