Big advantage any pro sportsperson has is lots of rest / sleep between (optimally-timed) training sessions. Plus it takes a couple of weeks to acclimatise to humid/hot weather. The Aussies should win every series, especially every home series, by a landslide. Kind of embarrassing (for them) that they don't.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 13/11/2017 03:05:10    2061981

FootblockREF (Monaghan) - Posts: 563 - 13/11/2017 09:48:42    2062008

Thought it was a decent game and pretty exciting. Ireland should of really brought more players with them as they struggled with fewer subs. I see Darren Hughes is on his way out for the second test, I wonder if a call was made to Diarmuid Connolly or Paddy McBrearty after their club exits at the weekend? I though Conor McManus was awesome and was well aided by Michael Murphy. As a Donegal supporter it was nice to see Murphy playing in the full forward line again and Declan Bonner has indicated that we will see more of this with Donegal in 2018 so looking forward to that. It was funny though, even playing for Ireland he was taken out to midfield for the whole 3rd quarter which was a strange move considering that him and McManus were on fire inside.

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 13/11/2017 17:14:21    2062124

Been a good first half. The 3rd quarter will be crucial.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 18/11/2017 09:35:21    2062943

Going about the job much better this week, playing more of a running game but in fairness it is a lot cooler.

lillyboy (Kildare) - Posts: 429 - 18/11/2017 09:36:16    2062944

Zach Touhy must have kicked away every ball he has got. Ireland lads are making basic errors because they are panicking for fear of being tackled

Onfor15 (Wexford) - Posts: 524 - 18/11/2017 09:52:48    2062945

We didn't create much nor take any goal scoring opportunities in the second half. They settled for overs late on when they should have been pushing for goals.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 18/11/2017 10:33:17    2062947

Terrible 4th quarter.mup to then felt we were going well.

Paul Geaney looked like he lacked the bottle for it gave nothing nor did OShea thought he was poor as captain. Walsh Cadogan and Brennan showed well.

McManus kicking is a joy to watch

Brianmac78 (Dublin) - Posts: 1168 - 18/11/2017 10:50:28    2062948

Enjoyable enough game except for the result. Can we learn anything from it? Video ref worked well and has the potential to stop lads going down holding their face which has come into our game, also like allowing the defender stand where the free occurred but hate the tackle and the 2 refs, bad enough 1 lad making bad calls but 2 with different interpretations on the pitch together would be too much.

lillyboy (Kildare) - Posts: 429 - 18/11/2017 10:53:52    2062949

Good games and consistently remarkably competitive, given the lack of regular games. Some of the unavailable players (McMahon and a couple of other Dubs and Mattie Donnelly etc) could have tipped the balance.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 18/11/2017 11:13:27    2062951

Only for McManus this would have been a bating match. Too many players who contributed nothing. Geaney, Clarke, Brennan smith, all gave the ball away a 100 times. Total farce.

muckla (UK) - Posts: 365 - 18/11/2017 11:24:23    2062952

Yeah far better and more exciting game this week. It isn't half bad when it's played like this.

As a Kerryman I have to say Paul Geaney was pretty poor in both games, really seemed to struggle with the pace of the game and some of his shooting was awful. Looks like he needs a good rest over the Christmas.

Only for McManus we would have been buried the first day, at least a few others took some of the burden off him today.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 18/11/2017 12:07:40    2062954

Enjoyable game again this morning. Better effort from the Irish boys but our inability to deal with the tackle and our poor goal finishing hindered us again. Brennan, Barrett and Murphy (last week) showed how to finish with calm, low finishes but we missed a good few goal chances over the two tests that should have been scored against a player who isn't a keeper.

I thought O'Shea and Murphy did well over the 2 games but McManus was undoubtedly the star of the Irish team. What a joy to watch and arguably the best inside forward of his generation.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13704 - 18/11/2017 13:21:26    2062957

Australia don't have a recognised goal keeper but that doesn't mean their goallie isn't going to spread himself well and make it difficult to score.

People are going to continue questioning the series. It just seems to be the way of it. If it was ended, people would call for it to return. It might not be a bad idea, if reports are true, that they might bring a game to the US.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 18/11/2017 14:58:12    2062961

As long as the players want it that's fine with me , they have little enough reward if there's a jolly paid for every two years good for them , as an actual spectacle it's OK would I pay in probably not , having said that Conor Mc Manus take a bow , can't believe there are still those who doubt his greatness , in a transfer market priceless IMO

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 18/11/2017 16:03:40    2062964

Very good game. McManus was brilliant. What a super super player. We all know it anyway I suppose. I also thought that Shane Walsh was brilliant today,particularly in the first half.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 18/11/2017 22:03:57    2062979