Even though two of manager Joe Kernan's selectors, Darragh Ó Sé and Dermot Earley, enjoyed distinguished international careers, the most experienced member of the Ireland management team currently preparing for the Test against Australia on Saturday week is the other selector Pádraic Joyce.
Twice an All-Ireland winner with Galway, he also captained Ireland to series success in 2004 and all told lined out in six series, becoming the country’s then record points scorer in 2005.
Brian McEniff, the manager who gave Joyce his first international cap in 2000, said of the player 10 years ago: “He’s a good head on him and needs very little guidance. He’s one of those players I can see coming back into management. He has those leadership qualities.”
This week Joyce was analysing the challenge that awaits Ireland next weekend and facing up to the blunt reality that in last year’s Test in Perth the team looked distinctly second best in areas supposed to be GAA strengths.
Comfortable
“Australia, watching last year’s video, were better kick-passers than we were with the round ball. They were more comfortable with the ball, which was strange to see. We’ve worked a lot on that this year – moving the ball. Obviously, their coach has won the last couple [three] of AFLs playing a fast, fluid running game, but the speed of it is obviously huge.”
Joyce is adamant that the all-pervasive devising of defensive systems is pointless in the international game.
“Our big thing is to try to get the guys to mentally change from the GAA to this game because even there in trial games we are watching lads drifting back and sitting in front of the D, which is not what you do in this game.
Hand-passes
“You really have to go man-to-man in this game because it’s all action. You can’t afford to let an Australian go up the field because he’ll do a couple of hand-passes and pop it over the bar.
“Trying to get guys to change their mentality has been a big challenge and obviously the kick-passing has improved as the weeks have gone on, but it’s not at the level it should be at in our game.
“I think the mentality in the GAA still is to sit back and hold back. Even a player now, you see in GAA, if they solo forward towards halfway, and they might see two or three bodies, they turn automatically and lay it off behind you, taking too much of a safe option instead of trying to beat the tackle and kick a 30/40 yard pass into space inside.”
Looking back on his international involvement he most fondly remembers the series of 11 years ago.
“There is loads of stuff, back in ’04 obviously when I was captain, just the camaraderie you get with the boys when I played back then.
“I have become very good friends since with Steven McDonnell, Benny Coulter, Ciarán McDonald of Mayo, guys I would have seen on the pitch, shook hands with and walked away.”
Departure
He was echoing a point made on the eve of departure for Australia in 2005 when he recalled having played for Ireland with the man after whom the international trophy is named, the late Tyrone captain Cormac McAnallen.
“Captaining the team to win the series and accepting the cup for the first time meant a lot to me. Cormac was a great player for us and a great fella to go on tour with, great crack to be with.
“God rest him.”
