THE MIDDLE THIRD:After the shambles that was Limerick, the ante was upped for the second Test in Croke Park and at last we got a bit more intensity and pace. Sport cannot survive without some bite.

THE SECOND instalment of the International Rules needed something special to salvage the series. There was an impressive crowd in Croke Park last Saturday night and what we saw was enough to keep us sated.

After the shambles that was Limerick, the ante was upped for both teams. For the sake of survival we needed more pace and more intensity.

Thankfully, we got both.

It wasn’t a dirty game but the aggression levels, which had completely disappeared in comparison to previous years, were evident. Cutting edge competitive sport cannot survive without some bite.

With more fellas putting their bodies on the line, we got what we needed. Was it enough to breathe life into the sport going forward?

For certain, Anthony Tohill will be bringing a gang of men Down Under in 2011 so let’s examine the positives and negatives of the Irish challenge.

A lot of people were surprised by how well Colm Begley performed but I wasn’t. He had decent stint in Aussie Rules with the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda before returning home to Laois, so he knew what was required.

The Stradbally man was one of our best players because he was so comfortable in possession and accurately kicked ball from hand.

Begley was spraying 40-yard passes to hand for marks that ate into Australian territory.

Unfortunately, this was a major problem for most of his team-mates to master.

Graham Canty was excellent on both nights, bringing all his experience to bear with some typical break-outs of defence, only for his kick-passes from hand to spoil all this good work. The same goes for Meath’s Kevin Reilly. Having bravely won the dirty ball, he didn’t find an Irish chest further out the field.

We were also too casual and it hurt us badly. Paddy Keenan, another hot off a super year with Louth, got caught in possession too often.

Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs off the ground allowed Tommy Walsh to get into the contest early on with some good marks but when the Aussies countered this, by stealing three balls off Cluxton on the trot, the Dublin goalkeeper changed it up by distributing from hand. The ability to adjust mid-game is the sign of a top-class player.

Tommy improved from the Limerick game. He was one of the few men able to compete physically with the tourists, he is probably the strongest footballer I have ever come across, but his shooting let him down.

There were moments of excellence from Tadhg Kennelly but, by his high standards, Tadhg will be disappointed with his overall contribution.

But I thought the two Down lads, Kevin McKernan and a fit again Benny Coulter, were outstanding. I was surprised McKernan didn’t see more minutes on the pitch. He looked so natural kicking a great over and his general exuberance ignited the Irish comeback in the second half.

I’ve said it before, but this is Benny’s playground. He is made for International rules. He has a lovely spring off the ground and, like the Aussie guys, when close to goal he knows how to make himself a viable target.

When Donegal’s Michael Murphy came on he made two fine marks and kicked his overs.

Bernard Brogan showed plenty of savvy, especially for James Kavanagh’s goal. Some more of that was needed to win.

Ireland could have done with his brother Alan as well. A few more natural ball players like Ciarán Sheehan and Paddy Kelly from Cork. Guys who are comfortable kicking off either leg, like Bryan Cullen and Meath’s Graham Reilly.

The winning and losing of the series?

The mark and the tackle combined to kill us off.

With the exception of Coulter, our inside attackers were unable to shake off their markers to make the essential marks close to the uprights.

Adam Goodes, Brad Greene and Dane Swan had no such problems.

We struggled badly with the tackle. It seemed too easy for Australia to make turnovers, while the movement of Tadhg, with his years of evading bigger men, showed how it can be done.

Like Tadhg, the Aussies twist and turn away from your grip before sending off a snappy pass.

The rest of the lads were caught in possession too often.

All told, there seems to be an appetite for the International Rules (at least until we find something better to warm us up in these cold days).

I enjoyed it but the Aussies looked about 25 points the better team over the course of both games. At least, Ireland made a test of it.

A semi-successful return then.

What else could we be doing?

What we did learn from the International Rules is the club takes precedence. The McMahon brothers in Tyrone, Kieran Donaghy and Declan O’Sullivan down here in Kerry proved as much.

That makes representing Ireland third in the pecking order behind club and county commitments.

I would like to see a few National League games played in November and December, but do it somewhere like America or another hotbed of the Irish diaspora.

Let’s promote our sport.

We see it on the All Star tours but make it competitive by putting our best counties out against each other with league points on the line.

Maybe a double header. Dublin versus Kerry followed by Cork and Tyrone.

Of course, the November/December off season rule is in place but every inter-county player worth his salt is ticking over at this time of year.

Just an idea.

I will be keeping an eye on Dr Crokes in the Munster club this weekend. I think they are a great bet, at 6 to 1, to win the All-Ireland, especially with Colm Cooper in his current mood.

I have met Crokes twice this season with West Kerry. We got the mother and father of a hosing over in Killarney but ran them closer in Tralee. They have been knocking on the door for a long time now. They are an exceptional side.

If they get over Monaleen on Sunday, Nemo Rangers are up next in a mouth-watering collision. Get through that and the road opens up.

Watching The Gooch weave his magic should keep me going through the dark months of winter.

Slán.