Australia's goalscorers Daniel Kerr and Matthew Pavlich celebrate theirfirst Test win. "We were very positive at half-time," said Pavlichafterwards. "Basically they were getting a free ride in the first half."

The Lyon in an Irish autumn. Throaty but happy. After two quarters, the visitors looked all at sea in Croke Park. Garry Lyon reckons he had already lost his voice by then. The Irish fans sat shivering and wondering if it was worth hanging around for a second-half deluge.

Instead, they were treated to a rebellion which delighted the Australian leader.

"It was very satisfying," says the visiting manager afterwards. "I was just proud of the way our boys stuck at it. They are playing a game that is so foreign to them and they were down at half-time by such a deficit that it would be easy for them to throw their hands in the air and say, oh well, it's a tough game to play. But they've got their resolve about them and came back out after half-time and kicked the first over after a few seconds."

"Their willingness to tackle is probably the thing that impressed me most. Tackling is foreign to your game, but you have to lay into them and in the first quarter we were woeful in that regard."

Only the night owls would have seen the live transmission Down Under, so Lyon was uncertain as to how big an impact this will have.

"Well, it was on at 12 midnight and I reckon a large percentage would have went to bed at half-time, which would have been one o'clock. So they'll find out somewhere along the way and they'll tune in next week, definitely," he predicts.

Next to the manager is tour veteran and captain Shane Crawford.

"Seamus. Seamus O'Crawford," laughs Lyon.

The Hawthorn player reflects on what was an emotional 24 hours for the touring party.

"Normally we are trying to fight each other and win over in Australia, but we have become really good friends and team- mates. And the events in Bali last night brought everyone a bit closer. A few of the guys know people who were injured, so that brought us a bit closer."

Mindful of the return leg next Sunday, he pays handsome tribute to the home side.

"I thought the Irish were fantastic. They work really hard, they are very quick and skilled in the wet conditions. So obviously we are only half-way there and we have a lot of work to do. We weren't kicking well on goal and that is the key to the whole game."

Trevor Giles pauses to reflect on a strange day for the home team. The classic game of two halves, albeit diced into four quarters.

"Ahh, it's really like two years ago. We started extremely well then and they improved dramatically in the second half. It was the same out there today. Amazing really, because we seemed to be playing really well," he muses.

"We got the chances but couldn't put them away, but I didn't think we'd pay for those misses the way we did. You'd be a bit disappointed today with that."

He was surprised by the sudden change in tempo after the half-time break.

"They won a few marks and got overs from those and suddenly were back in the game. But in fairness to them, they kicked very well. They didn't miss too much out there, didn't miss too much at all. And two goals, they got, was it? But we had a lot of new lads out there today and they will come on from that."

John O'Keeffe is not overly crestfallen by the result. The series is still wide open.

"We started brightly and our skills were excellent in the first half. But the Australians came out in the third quarter, their moving quarter, and it was crucial. Our lads took hits throughout which started to take their toll, and they put us under so much pressure from the kick-out that it eventually told."

The most disappointing aspect was that some of Ireland's most celebrated goal poachers misfired at crucial stages.

"We have the calibre of players up front to do that and, as a management, we went for those kind of attackers. And every time we went forward we looked dangerous. But we just weren't clinical enough. And we will have to take those next Sunday."

O'Keeffe also hopes arrangements will be made to ensure the home panellists are not affected by club championship commitments over the week.

"I think in fairness to the players - and particularly with the floodlit pitches here in Dublin - a midweek date could be found for the preparations for next Sunday. Surely they will do that in appreciation to the efforts these players are putting in by playing for their country."

The Irish squad will meet on Thursday, but a number of key players have club games scheduled next weekend. Two years ago, the Irish effort was similarly undermined.

Thplayers are Joe Bergin (Mountbellew Moylough), Ray Cosgrove (Kilmacud), Kieran McGeeney (Na Fianna), Graham Geraghty (Senchelstown), Cormac McAnallen (UCD), and Ciarán McManus (UCD).