2001 International Rules Series
| Event | International Rules Series | ||||||
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| 130–105 on aggregate, Ireland win series 2–0 | |||||||
| First test | |||||||
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| Date | 12 October 2001 | ||||||
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Victoria | ||||||
| Referee | Brett Allen (Australia) Pat McEnaney (Ireland) |
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| Attendance | 48,121 | ||||||
| Second test | |||||||
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| Date | 19 October 2001 | ||||||
| Venue | Football Park, Adelaide, South Australia | ||||||
| Referee | Brett Allen (Australia) Pat McEnaney (Ireland) |
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| Attendance | 31,713 | ||||||
The 2001 International Rules Series was the eighth annual International Rules Series and the fourth time a test series of international rules football has been played between Ireland and Australia since the series resumed in 1998.
The series was won by Ireland, who recorded their third series win in four attempts and their second on Australian soil. The win marked Ireland's first clean sweep of the series, as they defeated the Australians in both test matches and recorded a 130–105 aggregate points winning margin.
The AFL appointed Garry Lyon as coach for Australia, for his first time as coach of the national team and also his only coaching appointment, whilst Brian McEniff ended his tenure as Ireland manager in the series. In the first test at the MCG, both teams traded overs as Irish captain Anthony Tohill scored twice over the bar following impressive marks in the forward line to leave the visitors 14-10 up at the first break. Australia then dominated a patch of 10 minutes in the second quarter, scoring 16 points to nil with Richmond midfielder Joel Bowden scoring twice and Brad Johnson and Simon Black chiming in as well. Ireland recovered to narrow the gap to 6 points at half time (28-22) yet gifted a start to Australia in the third quarter when Blake Caracella was left virtually unmanned in the attacking sector to latch on to a rebound off the post and knock it into the net for the game's first six pointer. Trailing by 10, Ireland hit back with an exchange between Graham Geraghty and Tohill resulting in the latter's hurried finish into the back of the net. Crowley and Earley combined for an over apiece for the visitors to leave scores level at 41-41 at the final break. Ireland then ran away with an unassailable lead six minutes into the final quarter, Brendan Devenney scoring a fine over before a remarkable solo goal from Kieran McGeeney which began with a 40-yard run from his own half and ended with a terrible flap from Australian keeper Simon Goodwin. The Australians kept up the pressure by scoring some important overs and reduced the margin to a more manageable six points by the end.
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