Ireland struck a crucial psychological blow when they edged to a one-point victory in yesterday’s first International Rules Test at the Subiaco Oval in Perth.

But manager Sean Boylan and his players have been left in no doubt that they face a mammoth task in next Friday’s renewal of rivalry with the Aussies if they are to clinch the series.

Australia, outplayed for long spells yesterday, still managed to turn in a storming last quarter display to trim Ireland’s sails and add considerable spice to the second Test in Melbourne.

Even without the sin-binned Campbell Brown, the Aussies exerted huge pressure on their visitors who were relieved to hear the final hooter.

And now the pressure will be on Ireland to reach a higher gear next week in Melbourne when the intensity will be brought up to a different level as the hosts seek to overturn yesterday’s result.

Goals from Leighton Glynn, superb throughout, in the second quarter and skipper Sean Cavanagh and Armagh ace Steven McDonnell after half-time put Ireland in control, but a 17-point fourth quarter advantage evaporated under the heat of an Australian charge before the final hooter.

A disappointing first quarter produced only one over - a point in gaelic football terms - with Cavanagh on target as Ireland posted a 9-1 lead.

But the standard improved greatly thereafter, with the Aussies dominating the second and fourth quarters but Ireland enjoying the upper hand in the third.

Glynn’s goal in the second quarter helped Ireland into a 14-point lead but the home side stepped up a gear to go in level at the break (19-19).

Kangaroos Mattie Campbell, who saw a weak first quarter penalty easily saved by Ireland

goalkeeper David Gallagher, hit two overs before two exceptional long-range efforts from Adelaide Crows star Scott Thompson.

It could have been even worse for Ireland but Gallagher was quickly off his line to block Marc Murphy’s goal-bound effort over the bar for a three-pointer.

If the second quarter belonged to Australia, the third was undoubtedly Ireland’s, with Cavanagh driving a rising shot past goalkeeper Nathan Bock for the visitors’ second goal before taking his personal tally to 13 with an over.

Kieran Donaghy took a trademark high catch in front of the posts for a mark, converting the chance with ease, and a scruffy six-pointer from Stephen McDonnell extended the lead to 17 (41-24).

An over from Murphy, a second of the game for the impressive Carlton youngster, closed the gap at the end of the third quarter but the 17-point lead was restored when Glynn "overed" at the start of the fourth.

From there on in, however, Australia cranked up the intensity to pin the Irish side back into their own half.

Murphy hit two more overs - taking his own haul to 12 points overall - and Leigh Montagna, Michael Osborne and David Rodan also hit three-pointers to cut the deficit to one.

Apart from the heavy tackle from Campbell Brown on Finnian Hanley that earned him a yellow card, the game on the whole was free-flowing and disciplined, with none of the violence which had put the entire series in peril following the Croke Park debacle in 2006.

AUSTRALIA: Nathan Bock; Michael Firrito, Brad Sewell, Campbell Brown; Ryan Crowley, Drew Petrie, Adam Selwood; Brent Harvey (0-1-1, 4 pts), Scott Thompson (0-2-0, 6 pts); Scott Pendlebury, Daniel Motlop (0-0-1, 1 pt), David Rodan (0-1-0, 3 pts); Michael Osborne (0-1-0, 3 pts), Shaun Burgoyne, Mattie Campbell (0-2-2, 8 pts). Interchange: Matthew Boyd, Jared Brennan (0-0-2, 2 pts), Nathan Foley, Roger Hayden (0-0-1, 1 pt), Leigh Montagna (0-1-1, 4 pts), Marc Murphy (0-4-0, 12 pts), Max Rooke, Kade Simpson, Dale Thomas, Daniel Wells.

IRELAND: David Gallagher; Aidan O’Mahony, Finian Hanley, John Keane; Bryan Cullen (0-0-1, 1 pt), Kevin Reilly, Ciarán McKeever; Graham Canty, Colm Begley; Enda McGinley, Seán Cavanagh (1-2-1, 13 pts), Joe McMahon (0-0-1, 1 pt); Steven McDonnell (1-0-2, 8 pts), Kieran Donaghy (0-1-1, 4 pts), Benny Coulter. Interchange: Paddy Bradley (0-1-0, 3 pts), Leighton Glynn (1-1-1, 10 pts), Aaron Kernan, Ciarán Lyng (0-1-0, 3 pts), Justin McMahon, Michael Meehan (0-0-2, 2 pts), John Miskella, Pearse O’Neill, Tom Parsons.

Referees: Stephen McBrearty (Australia) and Pat McEenaney (Ireland).