Pearce Hanley in possession during the opening test in Melbourne last week. (Pic: Darryl Kennedy)

On TV: Tonight’s test is being broadcast live by One in Sydney, Channel Ten in Melbourne and Southern Cross in Tasmania. Ten shows it on a 30 minute delay in Adelaide and a three hour delay in Perth. One shows the game on a one hour delay in Brisbane. In Darwin, the game is being shown on a 90 minute delay.

Team News:

Not long to go now! We’re just 45 minutes away from the start of Ireland’s second test against Australia at Metricon stadium. We’ve already had some traditional singing and Ireland’s call has been played in the stadium. We all know what happened the last time Ireland’s call was sang before an Ireland v Australia clash in the Southern Hemisphere – Ireland had their record breaking win over Australia in New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup – here’s hoping we get another big Irish win tonight!

Both sides are out on the field warming up. Ireland were first out. The Aussies would have to win by a record breaking 45 points if they’re to clinch the series – here’s hoping that’s just too much for them to pull off! They’ve promised they’ll be playing their way and will be increasing physicality – should be interesting to see if that’s the case.

More pre-match goings on: There is some sort of hot dog eating competition going on outside the stadium – Why didn’t anyone tell me?! Would have loved to have been involved. No hot dogs in the press box unfortunately.

The teams are out! Under five minutes to go …

The teams are shaking hands before the start, but will the friendly banter continue?!

Match is on and it’s  feisty start! Brad Green and Ciaran McKeever pushing and shoving before the start – they looked so friendly at their joint press conferences for the last two weeks!

2 mins: Michael Murphy gets the first score for Ireland but it’s just a behind. Ireland lead by one point.

3 mins: Zach Tuohy’s Carlton team mate Mitch Robinson kicks the Aussies first score, it’s a behind also.

5 mins: Stephen Milne gets a behind for Australia – how long is it going to take for the first over of the game?!

6 mins: Tadhg Kennelly has a shot at goal but it’s a god save by Aussie keeper Matt Suckling. Not bad for a guy whose never played in goals before!

8 mins: Overs from Aussie skipper Brad Green and Mitch Robinson put Australia in the lead – 8 points to one.

11 mins: It’s on between the two captains!! Brad Green and Stephen Cluxton having a bit of a wrestle… it’s definitely more physical than last week so far.

12 mins: Amazing mark from Donaghy in front of goal before converting the over. Ireland trail by two points now. It’s Australia 8-6 Ireland.

16 mins: Great free kick goes over from last week’s outstanding performer Steven McDonnell. Ireland go ahead for the first time. Ireland 9-8 Australia.

17 mins: Another over from McDonnell. Ireland lead 12 points to 8 at quarter time.

Second quarter

2 min: Tyrone’s Joe McMahon has scored Ireland’s first over of the second quarter extending their lead. It’s Ireland 15-8 Australia.

3 mins: A captain’s over for Australia’s Brad Green. His soccer background again evident in his use of the round ball. Ireland 15-11 Australia. The Aussies so much more competitive than last week.

5 mins: Brad Green misses a free kick, uncharacteristically kicking a behind.

6 mins: Great over by Michael Murphy. one of the best tacklers on the side, he can also make an impact on the score board. Ireland 18-12 Australia.

7 mins: Steven McDonnell converts a free kick into an over for Ireland. They now lead by 10 points.

10 mins: Gold Coast Suns Zac Smith looking at comfortable at his home ground – a great mark in front of goal results in an over. Ireland 22-16 Australia.

13 mins: Leighton Glynn scores the first six-pointer of the game and what an absolutely class effort by him! Ran rings around Aussie keeper – literally! Ireland 28-16 Australia

16 mins: Tommy Walsh gets his first over of the evening after a standout performance last week.

17 mins: Another over from Zac Smith reduces Ireland’s lead but they still lead by nine points.

19 mins: Great mark from Tadhg Kennelly which he converts to an over after the siren. Are you sure you still want to retire Tadhg?!

Half-time score: Ireland 34-23! Looking good to take the series. But they’re down a man for ten minutes – Michael Murphy having a rest.

Half-time goings on: While Tadhg Kennelly takes time to do an interview for Channel 10, Australian coach Rodney Eade has a lot to say to his side. Footage from the Australian change rooms showing him trying to fire up his troops for the second half. As it stands Australia would have to win by 45 points to take the cup. Looking highly unlikely at this stage.

Second half:

The teams are back out! Australia out first, closely followed by Ireland.

1 min: It’s a tense start to the second half. There’s some niggle!!

2 mins: Kieran Donaghy gets Ireland’s first over of the second half. They lead 37 points to 23.

4 mins: Tommy Walsh kicks an over for Ireland, again impressing after a huge game last week.

5 mins: Brisbane Lions star Pearce Hanley ends up with Aussie skipper Brad Green on his back, but still emerges with the ball!

7 mins: It’s on! Brendan Murphy tries to get to know a few of the Aussie boys a little bit better. Mostly handbags on this occasion. He probably just wanted to make up for lost time since leaving the Sydney Swans.

8 mins: Ireland back to full strength. Michael Murphy’s time in the sinbin is over!

10 mins: Ireland down a man again as Finian Hanley is shown a yellow card after a tussle with Australia’s Brad Green. Green’s been looking for trouble all night!! But it’s Monfries who gets the yellow for Australia.

13 min: And there’s more wrestling – and again it’s Aussie skipper Brad Green in the middle of the action but again he doesn’t get yellow carded! Instead it’s Mark Nicoski that gets ten minutes in the bin.

16 mins: Ciaran McKeever is yellow carded! I can’t keep up, he’s keeping Finian Hanley company in the bin. Hanley was looking a bit lonely in there on his own anyway.

17 mins: Ok losing count of yellow cards so I’ll give you the score. It’s Ireland 41-24.

18 mins: now it’s a wide spread melee! There’s some ripped jersies but still no big punches thrown. AFL Andrew Demetriou does not look like a happy man in the stand!

20 mins: Okay, so Hanley and Monfries are out of the sin bin but Australia’s Robbie Gray has been shown yellow for his part in the melee. The sin bin has turned into the interchange!! A crazy third quarter.

Three-quarter-time: Ireland lead 41 points to 24 in a quarter that saw Australia get more yellow cards than points! They scored just one behind. Think it’s safe to say Ireland will take home the McAnallen cup, but will the Aussies raise their yellow card count in the final quarter?!

Fourth quarter prediction: Aussie skipper Brad Green to finally get the yellow card he seems desperate to have on his International Rules CV… he must really want a rest!

4 mins: Michael Murphy gets the first over of the final quarter. Ireland lead 44-24. Incredibly we’ve had a few minutes without any wrestling!

5 mins: Brad Green kicks his fourth behind, not a good night’s kicking from him. Maybe that’s why he’s been such an angry man the whole way through!

7 minutes: Australian journalist in the press box lamenting the fact that Ireland are about to beat Australia in yet another international sport. He’s clearly not over the Wallabies World cup defeat. He is consoling himself with the fact that regardless of what happens tonight, Australia will still be the second best International Rules side in the World!!

9 mins: Tommy Walsh kicks an over from close range free kick in front of goals. Irish lead now out to 22 points!

11 mins: Eamonn Callaghan over makes it double scores! Ireland lead 50 points to 25.

13 mins: A good over from Tadhg kennelly’s Sydney Swans team mate Benny McGlynn. The Aussies have had more yellow cards than overs in the second half – not a stat that will win you a series!

15 mins: Official attendance announced as 12,545 which means under 35,000 people have attended International Rules series in 2011. No doubt the low figures will be a source of much debate.

Full-time: Ireland win the match and the series. Result of second test Ireland 50-29 Australia, meaning a 65 point win for Ireland on aggregate!!

Story of the game:

A dominant win for Ireland in what has been a great series for the traveling side. The Aussies showed improvement in the first half but never looked like really threatening for the cup. The home side promised a much more physical encounter and they certainly delivered that. There were six yellow cards in total with Australia getting more sin bin visits than overs in the second half. Ireland’s AFL contingent past and present had a huge impact in the second test with Kennelly, Walsh and Begley some of the top performers. Of the non AFL talent Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy really shone for the winners.

Man of the match:

James Kelly wins Australian player of the series taking the ‘Jim Stynes’ medal. Tadhg Kennelly wins Irish player of the series – what a way to celebrate his retirement!

Irish captain Stephen Cluxton and vice-captain Ciaran McKeever lift the Cormac McAnallen cup – proud moment for all Irish people in the Gold Coast. McKeever makes the speech as Stephen Cluxton remains determined not to speak in public! He hasn’t spoken since winning the All-Ireland final.

More International Rules Coverage:

Sparse crowds threaten hybrid game, says GAA
McKeever ready to meet Aussie reprisal
Hybrid series will survive, say coaches
As it happened: Ireland 80 Australia 36 (First test)