WATCH: Wall tackle a highlight as Ireland humbled Down Under
Twenty years on from the first and, up until this morning, the only International meeting of the best that the LGFA and the AFLW have to offer, Ireland, with Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally in their line-up, and Australia met in an historic clash at a sold out North Sydney Oval.
Played with a traditional Aussie Rules Sherrin football and under full Australia Rules, it is no surprise that the hosts coasted to an easy 91-41 victory.
The Aussies were totally dominant in the game they have all played since they were children, scoring 13 goals in their 50-point victory and while Ireland did have some decent moments they were emphatically outclassed.
Coached by former Tipperary footballer and current Sydney Swans coach Colin O'Riordan the Ireland team was made up of 25 players who are all currently playing in the AFLW, but their relative inexperience of the Aussie Rules came to the fore quite quickly.
Australia raced into a healthy lead in the opening quarter with goals from Zipporah Fish, Tahlia Randall and Kate Hore.
Ireland responded well, the excellent Blaithín Bogue getting the first of her three goals before Neasa Dooley followed it up to trim the deficit.
Bogue scored two more goals in the second quarter, with Orla O'Dwyer also on the mark, however Randall caught fire to nail a brace of goals that left Australia 9.6 (61) to 5.1 (31) ahead at half-time.
Ireland failed to find a goal in the third quarter, and though Niamh McLaughlin did goal in Q4, the home side consistently kept the scoreboard moving as Monique Conti, Courtney Hodder, Nina Morrison and Chloe Molloy got in for goals to help close out the win.
One of the highlights of the game was a final quarter tackle by Vikki Wall that rocked the Aussie's Ella Roberts.
It was some measure of revenge for 2006 when Seneschalstown's Geraldine Sheridan was one of current GAA President Burns' selectors and the team included Meath players MAry Sheridan, Sinead Dooley, Ger Doherty and Jackie Shiels.
That series was played with a traditional Gaelic football and the Aussies never got to grips with the ball as they lost the opening test 134-15 in Breffni Park and were hammered 39-18 in the second test in Parnell Park.
The final scoreline in the second test might suggest a much closer affarir, but the reality of the game is that Ireland had Cora Staunton sent to the sin-bin, but ended up replacing her instead of going down to a numerical disadvantage. When the referee realised the error, he wiped over 40 points off the Ireland score and reduced them back to zero in the third quarter, but Ireland were still too strong.
Deferred coverage of the game is on TG4 at 12.05pm today.
PRE-ASSIST FROM VIKKI WALL