2006 Ladies' International Rules Series

The 2006 Ladies' International Rules Series was the first and, as of 2019, the only ladies' International rules football series played between Ireland and Australia. The series was played at the same time as the men's 2006 International Rules Series. Ireland won the series, winning the first test at Breffni Park by 134–15 and the second test at Parnell Park by 39–18. The series was broadcast live by TG4 and Setanta Sports. [1][2][3][4]

2006 Ladies' International Rules Series

Ireland Australia 173 33
Ireland win series 173–33 on aggregate
First test
Ireland Australia 134 15
Date	31 October 2006
Venue	Breffni Park, Cavan
Referee	Eugene O'Hare Cony Vardouniotis
Second test
Australia Ireland 18 39
Date	4 November 2006
Venue	Parnell Park, Dublin
Referee	Declan Staunton

Background

TG4 anniversary

In 2006 TG4 was celebrating its 10th anniversary and they asked the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association for suggestions to help mark the occasion. The LGFA subsequently approached AFL Victoria's female development manager, Nicole Graves, about the possibility of a ladies' international rules series.[2][5]

Rules

In March 2006 officials from the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association and Women's Football Australia met in Singapore to agree a set of rules for the test series. The LGFA were in Singapore for their 2006 All Stars tour. There were a number of differences from the men's game. Fewer steps were allowed than in the men's game. Players were not allowed to call a mark in the middle of the field. Instead, a mark was only allowed inside both 45 metre lines. This was intended to see more flow in the game. The scoring system and use of the round ball remained the same as in the men's game.[6][7] The Australian-style tackle was not allowed in the women's series.[3][5]

Series

First test

Ireland v Australia

31 October 2006	Ireland	134;15	Australia	Breffni Park, Cavan
16:00	6.26.16 Mary Sheridan (1-4-0; 18) Geraldine Doherty (1-3-0; 15) Cora Staunton (1-2-3; 15) Sarah O'Connor (0-3-4; 13) Dympna O'Brien (1-2-0; 12) Brianne Leahy (1-1-0; 9) Mairead Morrissey (1-1-0; 9) Michaela Downey (0-2-1; 7) Patricia Gleeson (0-1-3; 6) Lorraine Muckian (0-2-0; 6) Sinéad Aherne (0-1-1; 4) Bronagh Sheridan (0-1-1; 4) Aoibheann Daly (0-1-0; 3) Bronagh O'Donnell (0-1-0; 3) Caroline O'Hanlon (0-1-0; 3) Alma O'Donnell (0-0-1; 1) A.M. McDonough (0-0-1; 1) Angela Walsh (0-0-1; 1)	[8][9][10]	1.2.3 K. Zacharopoulos (1-0-1; 7) Michelle Dench (0-1-0; 3) Shelly Matcham (0-1-0; 3) Shannon McFerran (0-0-1; 1) Talei Owen (0-0-1; 1)	Referee: Eugene O'Hare Cony Vardouniotis

Second test

Ireland v Australia

4 November 2006	Ireland	39;18	Australia	Parnell Park, Dublin
19:15	3.5.6	[1][11]	0.4.6	Referee: Declan Staunton

Squads

Ireland: [1][8][12][13] Manager: Jarlath Burns (Armagh) First test starting XV Clíodhna O'Connor (Dublin) Rena Buckley (Cork) Angela Walsh (Cork) Caoimhe Marley (Armagh) Aoibheann Daly (Galway) Norita Kelly (Cork) Patricia Fogarty (Laois) Patricia Gleeson (Galway) Mary O'Donnell (Waterford) Sarah O'Connor (Kerry) (c) Bronagh Sheridan (Cavan) Brianna Leahy (Kildare) Geraldine Doherty (Meath) Mairead Morrissey (Tipperary) Cora Staunton (Mayo) Interchange players: Sinéad Aherne (Dublin) Micheala Downey (Down) Christina Heffernan (Mayo) Anne Marie McDonagh (Galway) Lorraine Muckian (Laois) Alma O'Donnell (Armagh) Dympna O'Brien (Limerick) Bronagh O'Donnell (Armagh) Caroline O'Hanlon (Armagh) Mary Sheridan (Meath) Squad players: Juliet Murphy (Cork) Una Carroll (Galway) Grainne Ni Flathartha (Kerry) Sinéad Dooley (Meath) Jackie Shields (Meath)

Australia: [1][5][8] Coach: Nicole Graves First test starting XV Joanne Butland (Queensland) Jane Clifton (Victoria) Kerryn Stephens (Victoria) Lauren Tesoriero (Victoria) Shannon McFerran (Victoria) Sarah Hammond (Victoria) Pia Kilburn (Western Australia GAA) Shelley Matcham (Western Australia) Belinda Blay (Victoria) Katherine Pender (Queensland) Meg Hutchins (Victoria) Lydia Padgett (Western Australia GAA) Talei Owen (Sydney) Julia Boyle (Victoria GAA) Angela Doyle (Western Australia GAA) Interchange players: Kathy Zacharopoulos (Victoria) Anna Haynes (Western Australia) Moana Hope (Victoria) Emma Hender (ACT) Renae Campbell (Western Australia GAA) Anna McIlroy (Victoria) Janine Milne (Victoria) Daisy Pearce (Victoria) Michelle Dench (Victoria) Penny Cula-Reid (Victoria)

References

1. "Brave Aussie ladies like ewes to the slaughter in Ireland". www.worldfootynews.com. 14 November 2006. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
2. Lane, Samantha (15 October 2006). "Women join in changing rules". The Age. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
3. "Gaelic girls could swing it for Aussies". irishexaminer.com. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
4. "GAA coverage on TG4 – Sunday 22 and Sunday 29 October". ladiesgaelic.ie. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
5. "Reliving the one and only Women's International Rules series 10 years on". girlsplayfooty.com. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
6. "Ladies Agree International Rules Deal with AFL". ladiesgaelic.ie. 19 March 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
7. "International Rules series for the Ladies/Women". www.worldfootynews.com. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
8. "TG4 International Rules Series 1st Test". ladiesgaelic.ie. 1 November 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
9. "Ireland v Australia – Ladies International Rules Series 1st Test Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
10. "Ireland v Australia International Rules game in Kingspan Breffni Park". ladiesgaelic.ie. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
11. "Ireland v Australia – Ladies International Rules Series 2nd Test Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 4 November 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
12. "Players Launch First Ever Ladies International Rules Test Series". ladiesgaelic.ie. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
13. "Irish Ladies International Rules Team portraits Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 14 October 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2019.