Junior Aussies Rules

Lemlin

Report from the game in Australia at the minute:

http://www.hoganstand.com/cavan/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=59202

Meath’s Shane O’Rourke hit 11 points as Ireland drew with Australia in the first test of the junior IRS in Melbourne.

The big St. Patrick’s Classical School player was his country’s top scorer as Ireland came from behind to earn a 39-39 draw with the home side. It didn’t look good for the visitors when Australia held a 13 point lead at the end of the third quarter, 31-18.

However, with O’Rourke and Cavan’s Ray Cullivan excelling, the Irish boys put in a huge final quarter in which they outscored the home side by 21 points to eight.

O’Rourke is the son of former Meath great Colm, who also terrorised Australian defences in the then Compromise Rules games in the 80’s, while Cullivan’s father Ray also played intercounty football in the colours of Cavan.

Ireland’s scorers were: Shane O’Rourke (Meath - 11 points), William Mulhall (Longford - 6 points), Colm O’Driscoll (Cork - 6 points [goal]), Pearce Hanley (Mayo - 6 points [goal]), Ray Cullivan (Cavan – 5 points), Michael Murphy (Donegal - 4 points) and Paddy Andrews (Dublin - 1 point).

Fair play to Colm O'Rourke's son. Looks like Meath could have another great forward on the way.

cournioni

Funnily enough, I have never been too impressed with Cullivan any time I've seen him play in a championship game...

Lemlin

Its his second year taking part in this. He certainly hasn't played too great for the minors when I've seen him.

cournioni

Absolutely not. But I have heard great things about him, I know Jody Clarke (Cavan minor manager) very well and when he was over Cavan U16's in 2004 he said that bringing Cullivan on as a sub in one of their games was like bringing a Senior intercounty player into an U16 team. He obviously rates him very highly. It will be interesting to see how he gets on.

Enda Gaffney (Crosserlough) seems to be playing very well for the minors at the moment too, I think he's scored 4-20+ so far in the Ulster minor league. I'm surprised he wasn't selected for the International Rules.

mchurl

Glad to see the two Dublin lads gettign on so well, with paddy Andrews top scoring in the 2nd test with 14 points and Kevin Nolan motm in the third. I played with both of these last season on the minors and they are both top class players and could well go on to play senior

kmart6

Anybody know where theres any pics of the tests???