O'Rourke: bring back the two-test series

November 24, 2014

The Irish players sing the National Anthem before the game at Patersons Stadium, Perth.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Paddy O'Rourke has called for a return of the two-test model in the International Rules series.

Speaking after Ireland's 46-56 defeat to Australia in Perth, the Meath goalkeeper said: "For it to succeed and for players to come along and get this great opportunity, it has to go back to two games. There has to be a buy-in. The Ireland team always put out their best players who always want to play for Ireland because it's our only chance as GAA players to pull on an Ireland jersey.

"To represent your country is a huge honour at any level so every GAA player wants to play in the International Rules. You can see that when the Aussies put out a good team, they're a match for us, they were better than us."

O'Rourke was disappointed that Ireland didn't make more of the possession they won around the middle third in the first two quarters.

"We were going alright kickout-wise in the first half, getting plenty of possession at midfield and then it was just coming out too quick.

"I thought we did alright around midfield and on the breaking ball which we'd worked on and had strategies for."


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