2008 International Rules Series | 
| | Tournament details | | Host country | Australia | | Winners | Ireland (1st title) | | Matches played | 2 | | Attendance | 77,976 | | Result | Ireland (102) def. Australia (97) | The 2008 International Rules series was the 10th annual International Rules Series and the 16th time that a test series of international rules football has been played between Ireland and Australia. After the 2007 series was cancelled by the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Australian Football League and the GAA agreed in 2008 to resume the series. The matches were played in Australia - October 24 in Perth, Western Australia and October 31 in Melbourne (after the AFL Grand Final and All-Ireland Senior Football Championship).[1] Ireland won by five points after a small win in both tests. [edit] New rule changes for 2008 Series -
- Maximum of 10[2] / 14[citation needed] interchanges per quarter.
- Teams are allowed only four consecutive hand passes (ball must then be kicked).[2]
- Match time reduced from 80 minutes to 72 minutes (18 minutes per quarter).[3]
- Goalkeeper can no longer kick the ball to himself from the kick-out.[3]
- Suspensions may carry over the GAA and AFL matches if The Match Review Panel see fit.[3]
- A dangerous "slinging" tackle will be an automatic red card.
- A shirtfront endangering the head will result in a red card.
- Physical intimidation can result in a yellow card.
- One-handed tackles result in a free kick.
- An independent referee can cite players for reportable offenses from the stands.
- Yellow cards sin bin reduced to 10 minutes.[3]
[edit] Squads Notes: - Main sources for squads: BBC Sport Online[4] and Hogan Stand.[5]
- Kerry's Tommy Walsh was named on the original Irish squad, but had to withdraw due to club commitments with Kerins O'Rahilly's. He was replaced by Paul Finlay.[6]
- Dublin's Bernard Brogan was named on the Irish original squad, but had to withdraw due to club commitments with St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh. He was replaced by Martin McGrath.[7][8]
- The match-day squad for both teams was limited to 24 players each.[9] Thus Australia (who had a 25 man squad) had to drop one player for each test and Ireland (who had a 27 man squad) had to drop three players.[9]
[edit] Irish management team - Coach - Seán Boylan
- Selectors:
- Runner - Seán Marty Lockhart
- Backroom team:
- Tour Manager - Seán Walsh
- Assistant Tour Manager - Tommy Kilcoyne
- Team doctor - Dr. Owen Clarke
- Physiotherapist - Frank Foley
- Masseur - Martin Regan
- Kit manager - Owen Lynch
- Waterboys - Ciaran Boylan and Pauric Gallagher
Notes: [edit] Refereeing team - Main referees - Pat McEnaney (Ireland) and Stephen McBurney (Australia)
- Standby referees / linesmen - David Coldrick (Ireland) and Brett Rosebury (Australia)
- Umpires - Gearóid Ó Conámha & John Bannon (Ireland) and ? & ? (Australia)
- Video match referee - Ian Curlewis (South Africa)
Notes: - Main source: Hogan Stand[10]
[edit] Matches [edit] First Test | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |  Australia | 0.0.1 | 0.5.4 | 0.7.7 | 0.12.8 | 0-12-8 (44) |  Ireland | 0.1.6 | 1.2.7 | 3.5.8 | 3.6.9 | 3-6-9 (45) | | Ireland won by 1 point | | Date | Friday 24 October 2008 | | Scoring (IRL) | Goals: Sean Cavanagh, Leighton Glynn, Steven McDonnell
Overs: Sean Cavanagh 2, Paddy Bradley, Leighton Glynn, Kieran Donaghy, Ciarán Lyng | | Scoring (AUS) | Goals:
Overs: Marc Murphy 4, Matt Campbell 2, Scott Thompson 2, Leigh Montagna, Brent Harvey, Michael Osborne, David Rodan | | Best | IRL: Glynn, Cavanagh, Gallagher, Joe McMahon, McKeever, Canty, Hanley
AUS: Murphy, Selwood, Harvey, Simpson, Thomas, Osborne | | Reports | Campbell Brown (Australia) - yellow card (10 minute sin bin) | | Injuries | None | | Venue | Subiaco Oval, Perth, Australia | | Attendance | 35,153 | | Umpires | Pat McEnaney (Ireland)
Steve McBurney (Australia) | | Match stats | AFL.com Match overview
AFL.com Match report
RTÉ Match report
Hogan Stand report | [edit] Second Test | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | | Australia | 0.4.3 | 0.5.6 | 1.6.9 | 3.8.11 | 3-8-11 (53) | | Ireland | 0.3.3 | 2.6.6 | 3.8.8 | 4.8.9 | 4-8-9 (57) | | Ireland won by 4 points | | Date | Friday 31 October 2008 | | Scoring (AUS) | Goals: Shaun Burgoyne, Marc Murphy, Drew Petrie
Overs: Drew Petrie 2, Daniel Wells 2, Jared Brennan, Campbell Brown, Shaun Burgoyne, Michael Osborne | | Scoring (IRL) | Goals: Benny Coulter 2, Kieran Donaghy, Enda McGinley
Overs: Seán Cavanagh 4, Paddy Bradley, Benny Coulter, Kieran Donaghy, Paul Finlay | | Best | AUS: Crowley, Simpson, Boyd, Harvey, Petrie
IRL: Canty, Coulter, Cavanagh, Glynn, Bradley | | Reports | None | | Injuries | None | | Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia | | Attendance | 42,823 | | Umpires | Pat McEnaney (Ireland)
Steve McBurney (Australia) | | Match stats | AFL.com Match overview
AFL.com Match report
RTÉ Match report | [edit] Gallery [edit] References |
