AFL Toyota Premiership 2011

Hang time. Seven minutes into the match Brisbane Lions acrobat Jared Brennan climbs high to launch his bid for mark of the, well, fortnight. Brennan’s huge leap drew gasps from the crowd, while a minute later Collingwood’s Dale Thomas also hurls himself onto an Irishmen’s shoulders in a bid to outdo Brennan’s effort.

Medical attention, anyone? Umpire Steve McBurney was quick to stop the match and let security do their thing when two male pitch invaders – appearing to be dressed as nurses – stormed the field in the second term. In true Aussie tradition, their efforts brought the MCG to its feet as they ducked and dodged security. However, they may have to apply for some extra shifts in the coming weeks with their wallets likely to be a tad lighter for that stunt.

Wet weather football. After a drizzly afternoon in Melbourne, the heavens opened in the second quarter and the visitors revelled in the conditions. Trailing at the first break, Ireland soon established a handy lead that it would never relinquish through superior skill with the round ball. The greasy conditions suited Sean Boylan’s team down to the ground, often kicking the ball soccer-style and almost always to a teammate’s advantage.

An Aussie goal! Who kicked it? Who cares!? Australia broke through for its first goal of the series and cut the margin to just six points in the 10th minute of the third term. Marc Murphy was the only Aussie in the vicinity as the ball spilled from the pack past Irish goalie David Gallagher. The crowd erupted and the home side, which had gone for more than six quarters without one, ended the drought.

Hey Spud, Man Utd's on the phone … oh, they just hung up. Ah, the plight of the goalkeeper.The Australians lifted after half time and so too did keeper Michael Firrito. Like teammate Nathan Bock the previous week, Firrito had a tough initiation to the most accountable position on the ground when two balls found the net before the main break. He had fans roaring with delight when he pulled off a miraculous save 14 minutes into the third quarter, but shortly after he was caught off his toes and Irish attacker Benny Coulter made him pay.

It's a goal frenzy! Two in a minute. Midway through the final term it looked like Australia might surge to an improbable victory, especially when Shaun Burgoyne cut the deficit to four. The Port Adelaide midfielder had just drilled a superb six-pointer from close range before the Irish responded to snuff a buoyed crowd. Benny Coulter proved the party-pooper as he slammed one with his fist past a despondent Firrito. And despite Drew Petrie registering Australia’s third goal late in the match, the Irish margin would prove too big to peg back.

IRELAND has claimed the Cormac McAnallen Cup after a four-point win over Australia in the Second Test of the 2008 Toyota International Rules Series at the MCG on Friday night.

The visitors started slowly but held onto their lead after a goal to Kieran Donaghy in the fifth minute of the second term, winning 4.8.9 (57) to 3.8.11 (53).

Full report