IRISH captain Sean Cavanagh says fans from both countries should embrace the International Rules because of the athleticism on offer.

Speaking after leading his country to victory Cavanagh said few occasions could match the contest on offer.

“You’ve got 27 of the best sportsmen from two great sporting nations going hammer and tong out there and it is a great spectacle,” he said.

The victory was extra sweet for Cavanagh, as he had the chance to win the Cormac McAnallen trophy, named after his close friend and former International teammate who died in 2004.

“I said after winning the All-Ireland in 2008 it was special but after being out there, coming through it and playing for Cormac and winning the trophy it is something special,” he said.

Cavanagh said he enjoyed the experience of playing under the hybrid rules and said he hoped it would be around for years to come.

“Whenever you’re playing that sport out there it is so exciting with the pace and the movement. The way the Australians play it too, it is fantastic and I’m hoping that they enjoyed it too.”

Cavanagh said history had taught him the Australians vastly improve in the second game of the series but that the Irish were prepared.

“We always knew Australia would come out fast. They always seem to do it in the second test because they get used to the round ball,” he said.

“We always knew that if we kept in touch it wouldn’t be too far away. It was our turn in the second quarter and we really turned the screws.”

Cavanagh said a change in strategy ensured that the Ireland side would not have a repeat of last week’s fadeout.

“We worked on the forward play and we looked at it last week. In the fourth quarter last week we were getting sucked up the field and played into the Australians’ hands. This week we tried to keep a spine down the middle of at least three players. It worked out well,” he said.