2006 International Rules Series

2006 International Rules Series
Event International Rules Series
Australia win series 109–79 on aggregate
First test
Date 28 October 2006
Venue Pearse Stadium, Galway, Salthill
Referee

Pat McEnaney (Ireland)

Shane McInerney (Australia)
Attendance 35,000
Second test
Date 5 November 2006
Venue Croke Park, Dublin, Dublin City
Referee

David Coldrick (Ireland)

Shane McInerney (Australia)
Attendance 82,127 (Sell Out)

The 2006 International Rules Series (officially the 2006 Coca-Cola International Rules Series) was the 13th annual International Rules Series and was played between Ireland and Australia.

The 2006 series involved two sell-out test matches, the first in Galway and the second in Dublin. Both of the matches were landmark matches for international rules tests in Ireland: the Galway test was the first international rules series match to be played under floodlights and the Dublin crowd was the largest crowd in the history of international sport in Ireland.

Both tests were again controversial due to the off-field actions of the Australian team and the on-field actions of both teams, as well as injury to several players from both sides.

Fixtures

Controversies

First test

Graham Geraghty was cited for a knee to the head of Australia's Lindsay Gilbee.

Off field controversy also dominated the series. Brendan Fevola's assault of an Irish barman which resulted in his being sent home from the Australian tour in the series brought the series into question for the behaviour and laid-back attitude which the professional Australian players have towards the series.[1]

Second test

A tackle by Australia's Danyle Pearce on Ireland's Graham Geraghty in the second test left Geraghty unconscious and requiring hospitalisation. The act was considered a "square up", further adding tensions to the series. Despite several on-field incidents, including a shirtfront by Adam Selwood which resulted in the broken nose of an Irish opponent and a headbutt to Australia's Ryan O'Keefe which left his face bloodied, red cards were not used and the actions were cleared by the match review panels.

Irish Coach Sean Boylan publicly blamed thuggery and refereeing for Ireland's loss to Australia and called for the series to be scrapped. In December, 2006, the Gaelic Athletic Association decided not to participate in the series any further unless the Australians agreed to abide by a code of conduct and more strict rules regarding tackling.

Jim Stynes Medal

Ryan O'Keefe was awarded the Jim Stynes Medal.

Squads

Ireland Australia
Name Team Position Name Team Position
Sean Boylan Meath Coach Kevin Sheedy Essendon Coach
Paul Barden Longford Chance Bateman Hawthorn
Colm Begley Brisbane and Laois Campbell Brown Hawthorn
Joe Bergin Galway Ryan Crowley Fremantle
Alan Brogan Dublin Aaron Davey Melbourne
Sean Cavanagh Tyrone Nick Davis Sydney
Rónán Clarke Armagh Brendan Fevola Carlton
Brendan Coulter Down Samuel Fisher St Kilda
Kieran Donaghy Kerry Dustin Fletcher (c) Essendon Goalkeeper
Dermot Early Kildare Lindsay Gilbee Western Bulldogs
Kieran Fitzgerald Galway Brendon Goddard St Kilda
Paul Galvin Kerry Barry Hall (c) Sydney
Graham Geraghty Meath Graham Johncock Adelaide
Tom Kelly Laois Matthew Lappin Carlton
Tadhg Kennelly (vc) Sydney and Kerry James McDonald Melbourne
Karl Lacey Donegal David Mundy Fremantle
Seán Marty Lockhart Derry Ryan O'Keefe Sydney
Steven McDonnell Armagh Brett Peake Fremantle
Kieran McGeeney (c) Armagh Danyle Pearce Port Adelaide
Anthony Moyles Meath Andrew Raines Richmond
Nicholas Murphy Cork Adam Schneider Sydney
Aidan O'Mahony Kerry Adam Selwood West Coast
Marc Ó Sé Kerry Justin Sherman Brisbane
Alan Quirke Cork Kade Simpson Carlton
Kevin Reilly Meath Brent Stanton Essendon
Shane Ryan Dublin Michael Voss Brisbane

*Brendan Fevola was an emergency for the first game, but was sent home before the second game due to misconduct in that he was involved in a fight at a pub.

**Lindsay Gilbee and Sam Fisher only played in the first game.

***Brett Peake and David Mundy only played in the second game.

Matches

First test

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Ireland 0.5.1 0.6.3 0.8.5 1.12.6 (48)
Australia 0.1.1 0.4.2 1.8.3 1.9.7 (40)
Ireland won by 8
Date Saturday, 28 October 2006
Scoring (IRL) Goals: Bergin

Overs: McDonnell 4, Barden, Begley, Bergin, Brogan, Cavanagh, Earley, Geraghty, Kennelly

Scoring (AUS) Goals: O'Keefe

Overs: O'Keefe 3, Davis 2, Hall 2, Davey, Lappin

Best IRL: Kelly, McDonnell, Fitzgerald, Bergin, McGeeney, Brogan

AUS: Lappin, O'Keefe, Fletcher, Sherman, Hall, Davis

Injuries Nil
Venue Pearse Stadium, Galway, County Galway
Attendance 35,000
Umpires Pat McEnaney (Ireland)
Shane McInerney (Australia)
Match report

Second test

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Ireland 0.3.1 0.4.4 0.5.5 0.7.10 (31)
Australia 1.3.1 1.6.3 3.11.6 3.15.6 (69)
Australia won by 38
Date Sunday, 5 November 2006
Scoring (IRL) Goals: -

Overs: Brogan 2, Earley 2, McDonnell 2, Coulter

Scoring (AUS) Goals: Crowley, Goddard, Stanton

Overs: Hall 4, Sherman 3, O'Keefe 2, Pearce 2, Bateman, Davey, Davis, Goddard

Best IRL: Kelly, Lockhart, Cavanagh, Moyles, Coulter, McDonnell
AUS: Pearce, Sherman, O'Keefe, Hall, Fletcher, Davey
Injuries IRL: Geraghty (concussion)
AUS: Brown (hand/lower back), Crowley (knee)
Venue Croke Park, Dublin, County Dublin
Attendance 82,127
Umpires David Coldrick (Ireland)
Shane McInerney (Australia)
Match report

See also

References

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