1984 International Rules Series

The 1984 International Rules Series, known for sponsorship reasons as the GAA Bank of Ireland International Series, was the first official series between Gaelic footballers from Ireland and Australian rules footballers from Australia. The series took place in Ireland and consisted of three test matches between the Australian and Irish international rules football teams.

While this was the first time these two countries had played a test series against each other, Australian representative teams had toured Ireland before 1967 and 1968 Australian Football World Tours. The series coincided with the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Australia, who were coached by John Todd and captained by another Western Australian Steve Malaxos, started the tour with a warm up match against a Connacht GAA team at Pearse Stadium. Australia lost the encounter by 14 points. In between the first and second tests, Australia were beaten by Ulster, 78 points to 28, at Armagh.

The Australian team won the test series 2–1 and finished with a superior aggregate of 222 points to Ireland's 208.

Summary

First test 21 October 1984 Venue: Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork Crowd: 8,000

Team Score Ireland 4-8-9 (57) Australia 2-15-13 (70)

Ireland AustraliaP.J. BuckleyMatt ConnorRitchie ConnorJohn CostelloTommy DwyerShea FahyMartin FurlongLiam HayesJimmy KerriganEoin ListonMick LyonsSeamus McHughDermot McNichollBrian O'DonnellJack O'SheaNoel RocheColm O'RourkeBarney RockTom SpillaneLiam TierneySean WalshDavid AckerlyMichael AishCraig BradleyAllen DanielsTerry DaniherRobert DiPierdomenicoRobert FlowerRoss GlendinningBrad HardieCraig HoldenStephen KernahanMark LeeSimon MaddenSteve MalaxosGarry McIntoshGary PertPeter MotleyJohn PlattenMurray RanceMaurice RioliRobert Wiley

Second test 28 October 1984 Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Crowd: 12,500

Team Score Ireland 3-18-8 (80) Australia 1-18-16 (76)

Ireland AustraliaLiam AustinGreg BlaneyP.J. BuckleyPlunkett DonaghyShea FahyMartin FurlongJimmy KerriganMick LyonsMicky MartinPeter McGinnitySeamus McHughF. McMahonDermot McNichollBrian O'DonnellColm O'RourkeJack O'SheaNoel RocheBarney RockTom SpillaneLiam TierneySean WalshDavid AckerlyMichael AishCraig BradleyAllen DanielsTerry DaniherRobert DiPierdomenicoRobert FlowerRoss GlendinningRussell GreeneBrad HardieGerard HealyCraig HoldenStephen KernahanMark LeeSteve MalaxosGarry McIntoshPeter MotleyGary PertJohn PlattenMurray RanceMaurice Rioli

Third test 4 November 1984 Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Crowd: 32,318

Team Score Ireland 5-11-8 (71) Australia 1-18-16 (76)

Ireland AustraliaP.J. BuckleyMatt ConnorRitchie ConnorJohn CostelloTommy DwyerShea FahyCharlie NelliganLiam HayesJimmy KerriganEoin ListonMick LyonsSeamus McHughDermot McNichollBrian O'DonnellColm O'RourkeJack O'SheaNoel RocheBarney RockTom SpillaneLiam TierneySean WalshDavid AckerlyMichael Aish Craig BradleyAllen Daniels Terry DaniherRobert DiPierdomenicoRobert FlowerRoss GlendinningBrad HardieCraig Holden Stephen KernahanMark LeeSimon MaddenSteve MalaxosGarry McIntoshPeter MotleyGary PertJohn PlattenMurray RanceMaurice RioliRobert Wiley

Beitzel Medal (Best player for the series) — J.Kerrigan (Ireland)

References

External links Australia v. Ireland since 1967

GAA: International Rules – Series 1 – 1984 – Ireland