League of Ireland XI

Last updated

League of Ireland XI
Association Football Association of Ireland
Head coach Damien Richardson 2010-
Home stadium Dalymount Park 1924–1987
Aviva Stadium 2010–
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First colours
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Second colours
First international
Flag of Ireland.svg League of Ireland XI 3–3 Welsh League XI Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(Dalymount Park, Ireland; 19 February 1924)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Scotland.svg Scottish League XI 11–0 League of Ireland XI Flag of Ireland.svg
(Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland; 28 November 1962)

The League of Ireland XI, more recently referred to as the Airtricity League XI for sponsorship reasons, is the representative team of the League of Ireland, the national association football league of Ireland. For much of its history, the League of Ireland XI has effectively acted as a reserve or B team to the senior Republic of Ireland national team, providing international representative honours to home-based players. In fact it has played considerably more games than the actual Republic of Ireland B national football team. In addition to playing regular games against similar representative teams, such as the Irish League XI, the Scottish Football League XI and the Football League XI, the League of Ireland XI has also played in prestige friendlies against the full national teams of both Argentina and Brazil. The League of Ireland XI also represented Ireland in the qualifying stages of the 1988 Olympic Football Tournament. More recently a League of Ireland U-23 XI has represented the Republic of Ireland in the International Challenge Trophy. Meanwhile, a senior team with no age or nationality restriction regularly plays visiting club sides. More recently the team competed in the 2011 Dublin Super Cup.

Contents

History

1920s and 1930s

During the 1920s and 1930s, the four national associations that made up the International Football Association Board (IFAB)– The Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales and Northern Ireland's Irish Football Association – refused to recognise the rights of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) when it came arranging full internationals. Consequently, the FAI could not arrange full internationals against its nearest neighbours. The IFAB, however, did permit inter-league games to be played. In the absence of full internationals against England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, these inter-league matches between the League of Ireland XI, the Irish League XI, the Welsh Football League XI and the Scottish Football League XI were highly regarded by both the FAI and Irish football fans alike. Attendances of up to 30,000 at these matches at Dalymount Park led them to have been treated almost as full internationals.

The League of Ireland XI made their official debut with a 3–3 draw against a Welsh Football League XI on 9 February 1924. Ernie MacKay scored the representative team's first ever goal while Dave Roberts added the other two. The League of Ireland XI played the Irish League XI for the first time on 13 March 1926. Charlie Dowdall scored twice in a 3–1 win for the home team. On St. Patrick's Day, 1937, a League of Ireland XI also played and defeated visiting Yugoslav side SK Jugoslavija 3–2. [1] The League of Ireland XI played the Scottish League XI for the first time on St. Patrick's Day, 1939. The Scottish team was billed as a team of all-stars and had a combined valuation estimated to be £60,000. In front of a crowd of 35,000 at Dalymount Park, the League of Ireland XI defeated the Scottish League XI with Johnny Johnstone and Paddy Bradshaw scoring the goals in the 2–1 win [2] [3] [4]

National Team

The League of Ireland XI has always enjoyed a close relationship with the senior Republic of Ireland national team. When Ireland competed at both the 1924 and 1948 Olympic Football Tournaments, they were represented by League of Ireland XIs made up of amateur players. On at least three further occasions before the Second World War, the FAI selected a full international team entirely made up of players playing in Ireland. On 21 March 1926, for the game against Italy, [5] the Ireland team even featured Drumcondra’s Joe Grace from the Leinster Senior League. It was a League of Ireland XI that played Belgium on 12 February 1928 [6] and then the Netherlands on 8 December 1935. [7] Before the Second World War, League of Ireland players made up the nucleus of just about every FAI Ireland full international team.

Post-Second World War

For most of the Second World War era, the League of Ireland XI's only opponents were the Irish League XI. However once the conflict ended, the fixture against the Scottish League XI was revived. They also began to play the Football League XI on a regular basis. With the majority of the leading Irish players now playing in the Football League, however, the League of Ireland XI now found itself at a disadvantage. As a result, the majority of the games they played against the Scottish League XI and the Football League XI usually ended in heavy defeat. However, there was the occasional success story. On 2 October 1963 at Dalymount Park, the League of Ireland XI defeated the Football League XI 2–1, thanks to goals from Eddie Bailham and Ronnie Whelan. This Football League XI included four players – Ray Wilson, Bobby Moore, Roger Hunt and Martin Peters – who subsequently went on to help England win the 1966 FIFA World Cup. [8] At the time Whelan was working for Unidaire, a Finglas-based electrical firm, and he subsequently received a warning from his boss at the company for taking time off to play in this game. [9]

Prestige Friendlies

From the late 1970s onwards, the League of Ireland XI also began to play friendlies against national teams. These included two prestige games against the full Argentina national team. On 19 April 1978, at the Estadio Alberto J. Armando, Argentina played the League of Ireland XI in a warm up game as part of their preparations for hosting the 1978 FIFA World Cup. A team that included the former England international Bobby Tambling and several Republic of Ireland internationals such as Johnny Giles, Ray Treacy, Eamonn Gregg, Noel Synnott, Cathal Muckian, Jerome Clark and Synan Braddish lost 3–1 to a very strong Argentina. The starting eleven for Argentina included ten players who later played in the 1978 FIFA World Cup Final in which Argentina beat the Netherlands 3–1. In addition a young Diego Maradona also came on as a substitute. Leopoldo Luque, Oscar Ortiz and Ricardo Villa scored for Argentina before Synan Braddish grabbed a consolation goal for the league select. [10] [11] On 29 May 1979, Argentina, then the reigning World Cup holders, visited Lansdowne Road and were held to a 0–0 draw by a Republic of Ireland XI in a UNICEF fundraiser; this team is sometimes incorrectly listed as a League of Ireland XI. [12] 30 April 1980 saw the League of Ireland XI play Argentina for a second time, this time at the Estadio Monumental. On this occasion, a team that included Liam Buckley, Terry Eviston, Johnny Walsh and Tommy McConville lost 1–0 to a goal scored by Diego Maradona. A month later, Argentina beat the senior Republic of Ireland 1–0 at Lansdowne Road. [8] [13]

In another notable game from this era, the League of Ireland XI also became the first representative team to play the Basque Country following the ending of the Francoist regime. This game was played on 16 August 1979 at the San Mamés Stadium. The Basque team was made up of Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao players and all eleven subsequently became full Spain internationals. In contrast the league select was under strength and was referred to in newspaper reports as a League of Ireland B team. The Basque Country team easily defeated this League of Ireland XI 4–1. [14] [15] In 1981, the League of Ireland XI returned to South America and this time played Brazil. A team managed by Jim McLaughlin lost 6–0 with the legendary Zico scoring four of Brazil's goals. [16]

Olympic qualifiers

League of Ireland XIs made up of amateur players represented Ireland in qualifiers for the 1960, 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympic Football Tournaments. For the 1988 Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers, a senior League of Ireland XI featuring professionals represented Ireland. They were drawn in a "group of death" that also included Hungary, Sweden, Spain and France – France had won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Football Tournament. This League of Ireland XI was again managed by Jim McLaughlin.

The team kicked off their Olympic campaign with a 2–1 defeat against Hungary at Glenmalure Park on November 11, 1986. Their next opponents were Spain at Tolka Park on February 4, 1987. Goals from Noel Larkin and Mick Byrne saw the League of Ireland XI draw 2–2. Their first away games came against Sweden and France. The League of Ireland XI lost 1–0 to Sweden after they conceded a very late goal but managed to hold France to a 1–1 draw. On August 26, 1987, a crowd of less than 1,000 saw the League of Ireland XI lose 1–0 at Dalymount Park to a Sweden team that included Tomas Brolin. Next came the home match against France on 18 November 1987 at Dalymount Park. A crowd of just 4,000 would witness one of the League of Ireland XI's best results. Two goals from Mick Bennett and one from Peter Eccles saw them gain a 3–0 win. Ireland finished the qualifying group with two away games. Dave Barry scored in Hungary but the League of Ireland XI lost 3–1 while goals from Barry Kehoe and Bennett earned them a 2–2 with Spain in Alicante. The League of Ireland XI finished fourth in the group. Sweden qualified for the finals where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals. [17]

Group C Final Table

RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 8611136+713
2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 8512138+511
3Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 8143912−36
4 Flag of Ireland.svg League of Ireland XI81341012−25
5Flag of France.svg  France 8134916−75

[18]

1988 Marlboro Cup

In August 1988, the League of Ireland XI competed in the Marlboro Cup, a four team tournament, held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. They lost their first game 3–0 against Club Universidad de Guadalajara on 5 August, with Mick Neville conceding an own goal. They then lost 1–0 to El Salvador in a third place playoff two days later. The tournament was won by Guatemala, who beat Club Universidad 3–2 in the final. [19]

DateTeam #1ResultTeam #2Round
August 5, 1988 Flag of Mexico.svg Club Universidad de Guadalajara 3-0 Flag of Ireland.svg League of Ireland XISemi-finals
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 1–2Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala
August 7, 1988Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 1–0 Flag of Ireland.svg League of Ireland XIThird Place Match
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 3–2 Flag of Mexico.svg Club Universidad de Guadalajara Final

Aviva Stadium

Manchester United

On 4 August 2010, the League of Ireland XI hosted the first soccer match to be played at the Aviva Stadium. A team managed by Damien Richardson lost 7–1 to Manchester United. The league select were 6–0 down after 70 minutes, with goals from Park Ji-sung (2), Michael Owen, Javier Hernández, Antonio Valencia and Jonny Evans. Park opened the scoring in the 13th minute in bizarre fashion; as he went to block a defender's clearance, the ball ricocheted off him and into the net. Owen doubled United's lead in the 25th minute with a chipped shot over the goalkeeper, before half-time substitute Hernández made it 3–0 two minutes after the break. Three goals in the space of nine minutes from Valencia (60th minute), a second from Park (63rd) and Jonny Evans (69th) increased the lead to 6–0, before Dave Mulcahy scored a consolation goal for the League of Ireland XI in the 78th minute. Nevertheless, there was still time for Nani to get a seventh goal, converting a penalty after Hernández had been fouled in the penalty area. [20] [21] [22] [23]

Dublin Super Cup

Damien Richardson was again in charge of the League of Ireland XI when the Aviva Stadium hosted the 2011 Dublin Super Cup, a tournament which saw the representative team take on both Manchester City and Celtic. Shamrock Rovers players, however, were not available because of a clash with the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off rounds. As a result, Richardson had to field an understrength team. They lost their opening game to Manchester City 3–0, [24] then lost 5–0 to Celtic. [25] The League of Ireland XI were the only team in the tournament that didn't win a match or score any goals. [26]

League of Ireland XI matches

[4] [27] [28]

DateOpponentsResultScoreCompetitionVenueAttendance
09/02/1924 Welsh Football League XI D3–3friendly Dalymount Park
23/02/1924 Celtic L0–3friendly Dalymount Park 22,000
[29] [30] [31] [32]
14/03/1925Welsh Football League XIL1–2friendly Dalymount Park 17,000
07/11/1925Welsh Football League XID2–2friendly Swansea
13/03/1926 Irish League XI W3–1friendly Dalymount Park 18,000
05/03/1927Irish League XID1–1friendly Windsor Park 15,000
02/04/1927Welsh Football League XIL1–2friendly Dalymount Park 7,000
10/03/1928Irish League XIW3–1friendly Shelbourne Park 12,000
06/10/1928Welsh Football League XIW4–3friendly Dalymount Park
09/03/1929Irish League XIL1–2friendly The Oval 15,000
01/03/1930Irish League XIL1–6friendly Dalymount Park 12,000
03/05/1930Welsh Football League XIL1–6friendly Swansea
16/10/1932Welsh Football League XIW2–0friendly Dalymount Park
18/03/1935Welsh Football League XIW2–1friendly [33]
17/03/1937 Yugoslav League XI W3–2friendly Dalymount Park
17/03/1938Irish League XIL1–3friendly Dalymount Park 30,000
11/03/1939Irish League XIW2–1friendly Windsor Park 11,000
17/03/1939 Scottish Football League XI W2–1friendly [2] Dalymount Park 35,000
18/03/1940Irish League XIW2–0friendly Dalymount Park 26,000
17/03/1941Irish League XIL3–8friendly Dalymount Park 6,000
14/04/1941Irish League XIL1–2friendly Windsor Park 25,000
17/03/1942Irish League XID2–2friendly Dalymount Park 31,000
06/04/1942Irish League XIL2–5friendly Windsor Park 30,000
17/03/1943Irish League XIL0–1friendly Dalymount Park 28,000
26/04/1943Irish League XID2–2friendly Windsor Park 21,000
17/03/1944Irish League XIL3–4friendly Dalymount Park 28,000
10/04/1944Irish League XID2–2friendly Windsor Park 35,000
17/03/1945Irish League XIW2–1friendly Dalymount Park 36,000
02/04/1945Irish League XIW5–3friendly Windsor Park 32,000
18/03/1946Irish League XIL1–2friendly Dalymount Park 37,000
22/04/1946Irish League XIL0–3friendly Windsor Park 32,000
17/03/1947Irish League XID2–2friendly Dalymount Park 20,000
07/04/1947Irish League XIW1–0friendly Windsor Park 30,000
30/04/1947 Football League XI L1-3friendly Dalymount Park
17/03/1948Irish League XIW2–1friendly Dalymount Park 25,000
29/03/1948Irish League XIL0–4friendly Windsor Park
14/04/1948Football League XIL0-4friendly [34] Deepdale
24/04/1948Scottish Football League XIL0–2friendly Dalymount Park 25,000
29/09/1948Scottish Football League XIL1–5friendly Ibrox Stadium 57,600
17/03/1949Irish League XID0–0friendly Dalymount Park 20,000
18/04/1949Irish League XIL1–4friendly Windsor Park 25,000
04/05/1949Football League XIL0–5friendly Dalymount Park
19/10/1949Scottish Football League XIL0–1friendly Dalymount Park 17,000
15/02/1950Football League XIL0–7friendly Molineux Stadium
17/03/1950Irish League XIW3–1friendly Dalymount Park 18,000
10/04/1950Irish League XID2–2friendly Windsor Park 10,000
17/01/1951Scottish Football League XIL0–7friendly Celtic Park 10,000
04/04/1951Football League XIL0–1friendly Dalymount Park
10/10/1951Football League XIL1–9friendly [35] Goodison Park
17/03/1952Scottish Football League XIL0–2friendly Dalymount Park 33,000
02/05/1952 United States men's soccer team W4–0friendly Dalymount Park 8,000
08/10/1952Scottish Football League XIL1–5friendly [36] Celtic Park 10,000
17/03/1953Football League XIL0–2friendly Dalymount Park
22/04/1953Irish League XIL0–3friendly Dalymount Park 16,000
23/09/1953Welsh Football League XIW3–1friendly Dalymount Park
10/02/1954Football League XIL1–9friendly Maine Road
17/03/1954Scottish Football League XIL1–3friendly Dalymount Park 35,000
19/04/1954Irish League XID0–0friendly Windsor Park
02/05/1954 Hessenliga W1–0friendly Dalymount Park
22/09/1954Football League XIL0–6friendly Dalymount Park
18/11/1954Scottish Football League XIL0–5friendly [37] Shawfield Stadium 18,000
17/03/1955Irish League XIW2–1friendly Dalymount Park 30,000
14/05/1955HessenligaL2–7friendly Frankfurt
19/05/1955HessenligaL0–5friendly Kassel
21/09/1955Scottish Football League XIL2–4friendly Dalymount Park
07/12/1955Football League XIL1–5friendly [38] Goodison Park
12/02/1956HessenligaW4–1friendly Dalymount Park
17/03/1956Irish League XIW1–0friendly Dalymount Park 23,000
02/04/1956Irish League XIL0–6friendly Windsor Park 20,000
19/09/1956Football League XID3–3friendly Dalymount Park
26/09/1956Scottish Football League XIL1–3friendly Shawfield Stadium 23,000
18/03/1957Irish League XID2–2friendly Dalymount Park 28,000
22/04/1957Irish League XIW2–1friendly Windsor Park 15,000
18/09/1957Scottish Football League XIL1–5friendly Dalymount Park 23,000
19/10/1957Football League XIL1–3friendly Elland Road
17/03/1958Irish League XID2–2friendly Dalymount Park 32,000
07/04/1958Irish League XIL1–3friendly Solitude Ground 29,000
24/09/1958Scottish Football League XIL0–1friendly Ibrox Stadium 9,000
29/10/1958Irish League XIW3–2friendly Windsor Park 5,000
17/03/1959Football League XID0–0friendly Dalymount Park
02/09/1959Scottish Football League XIL1–4friendly [39] Dalymount Park 26,000
04/11/1959Football League XIL0–2friendly Ewood Park
17/03/1960HessenligaW5–2friendly Dalymount Park
12/04/1960Irish League XIW2–1friendly Tolka Park 8,000
14/09/1960Football League XIL0–1friendly Dalymount Park
05/10/1960Scottish Football League XIL1–5friendly Celtic Park 23,000
17/03/1961Irish League XIL2–3friendly Dalymount Park 12,000
03/04/1961Irish League XID1–1friendly Solitude Ground 22,000
06/09/1961Scottish Football League XID1–1friendly Dalymount Park 6,000
11/10/1961Football League XIL2–5friendly Eastville Stadium
17/03/1962 Italian League B L0–3friendly Dalymount Park
04/04/1962Irish League XIL1–3friendly Windsor Park 4,000
06/05/1962Italian League BL0–6friendly Rimini
28/11/1962Scottish Football League XIL0–11friendly [9] Celtic Park 8,000
18/03/1963Irish League XIL1–3friendly Dalymount Park 15,000
02/10/1963Football League XIW2–1friendly [9] Dalymount Park 30,000
17/03/1964Irish League XIW4–2friendly Dalymount Park 8,000
15/04/1964Irish League XID2–2friendly Windsor Park 7,000
25/05/1964International XIfriendly [40] Flower Lodge 20,000
23/09/1964Scottish Football League XID2–2friendly Dalymount Park 25,000
14/05/1965Irish League XIL1–0friendly Flower Lodge 3,500
27/10/1965Football League XIL0–5friendly Boothferry Park 28,283
07/09/1966Scottish Football League XIL0–6friendly Celtic Park 12,000
22/03/1967Irish League XIL1–3friendly Windsor Park 6,000
25/10/1967Irish League XIW3–2friendly Dalymount Park 10,000
08/11/1967Football League XIL2–7friendly Dalymount Park 27,000
04/09/1968Scottish Football League XID0–0friendly Dalymount Park 25,000
09/04/1969Irish League XIW2–1friendly Windsor Park 5,000
10/09/1969Football League XIL0–3friendly Oakwell
17/03/1970Irish League XIL0–2friendly Dalymount Park 10,000
02/09/1970Scottish Football League XIL0–1friendly Celtic Park 7,654
27/11/1970 Australian League XI W1–0friendly Dalymount Park
22/09/1971Football League XIL1–2friendly Lansdowne Road
03/02/1972 Italian League B D1–1friendly Dalymount Park
22/03/1973 Italian League B L0–2friendly Catanzaro
18/03/1974Irish League XIW3–2friendly Dalymount Park 2,000
01/12/1974 Torpedo Moscow D0–0friendly Dalymount Park
19/08/1976 Torino F.C. D0–0friendly Dalymount Park 2,000
19/01/1977Italian League BL0–2friendly Udine 22,000
16/03/1977Italian League BW2–0friendly Oriel Park
21/09/1977Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland L1–2friendly Dalymount Park
19/04/1978Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina L1–3friendly Estadio Alberto J. Armando
02/08/1978 Liverpool L1–3friendly [41] Lansdowne Road 25,000
14/04/1979Italian League BL0–1friendly Mantua
23/06/1979 Malaysia League XI L0–1friendly Kuala Lumpur 25,000
25/06/1979Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore W4–1friendly
16/08/1979Flag of the Basque Country.svg  Basque Country L1–4friendly [42] San Mamés Stadium 40,000
12/10/1979Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand W2–1friendly Tolka Park
17/03/1980Scottish Football League XIW2–1friendly Dalymount Park 5,000
30/04/1980Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina L0–1friendly Estadio Monumental
15/04/1981Irish League XIW1–0friendly Tolka Park 2,000
23/09/1981Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil L0–6friendly [16] [43] Estádio Rei Pelé 54,000
08/05/1982Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand L0–1friendly Rotorua
09/05/1982Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand L0–1friendly Rotorua
12/05/1982Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand D0–0friendly Gisborne, New Zealand 12,000
16/05/1982Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand W2–1friendly Dunedin
19/05/1982Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand L0–1friendly Invercargill
27/04/1983Italian League BL0–2friendly Stadio Olimpico
20/08/1983 Newcastle United L0–3friendly St James' Park
14/02/1984Italian League BD0–0friendly Padua
30/10/1984Irish League XIL0–4friendly Windsor Park 873
17/03/1986Irish League XIW2–1friendly Tolka Park 1,500
28/04/1986Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq L0–1friendly Al-Shaab Stadium 25,000
28/08/1986Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia D1–1friendly National Stadium, Singapore
31/08/1986Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia L0–3friendly National Stadium, Singapore
19/11/1986Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary L1–2Olympic qualifier [18] Glenmalure Park
04/02/1987Flag of Spain.svg  Spain D2–2Olympic qualifier [18] Tolka Park
17/03/1987Irish League XIL1–2friendly The Showgrounds 700
05/05/1987Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden L0–1Olympic qualifier [18] Solna
11/08/1987Flag of France.svg  France D1–1Olympic qualifier [18] Dunkirk
26/08/1987Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden L0–1Olympic qualifier [18] Dalymount Park
18/11/1987Flag of France.svg  France W3–0Olympic qualifier [18] Dalymount Park
04/05/1988Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary L1–3Olympic qualifier [18] Budapest
18/05/1988Flag of Spain.svg  Spain D2–2Olympic qualifier [18] Alicante
05/08/1988 Club Universidad de Guadalajara L0–3 Marlboro Cup Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
07/08/1988Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador D0–1 Marlboro Cup Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
17/05/1989Irish League XIW3–0friendly Oriel Park 500
18/06/1989Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador D1–1friendly Trinidad
20/06/1989Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago L0–1friendly Trinidad
07/05/1990Irish League XIW1–0friendly The Oval 500
19/11/1991Irish League XIL0–2friendly Tolka Park 2,000
17/07/1992 Celtic F.C. L0–5friendly Tolka Park
18/07/1992 Manchester City L0–3friendly Tolka Park
23/07/1993 Leeds United D2–2friendly Tolka Park
06/08/1993 Blackburn Rovers L0–1friendly Tolka Park
17/08/1993 Czechoslovakia XI L1–4friendly Tolka Park
19/08/1993LiverpoolL1–2friendly Lansdowne Road
07/10/1994Welsh Football League XIW2–0friendly Porthmadog
08/11/1994 IFK Göteborg W1–0friendly Tolka Park
07/03/1995Irish League XID1–1friendly Richmond Park 600
02/04/1996Welsh Football League XIL0–1friendly St Colman's Park
05/06/1996Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia D2–2friendly Hunky Dorys Park
11/06/1996Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea U23 D1–1friendly AUL Complex
28/07/1996 Manchester United L1–4friendly Tolka Park 7,720
25/02/1997 England C W2–0friendly Richmond Park
04/03/1997Welsh Football League XIW1–0friendly Leckwith
17/03/1997 Republic of Ireland B D1–1friendly Tolka Park
02/09/1997Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland L0–3friendly Tolka Park
09/02/1999Republic of Ireland BL3–4friendly Carlisle Grounds
01/11/2000Irish League XIL0–2friendly [9] Terryland Park 350
04/08/2010Manchester UnitedL1–7friendly Aviva Stadium 49,800 [21] [44]
30/07/2011Manchester CityL0–3 Dublin Super Cup [45] [24] Aviva Stadium
31/07/2011CelticL0–5 Dublin Super Cup [46] [25] Aviva Stadium

Recent squad

The following players were called up for the 2011 Dublin Super Cup [47] [48]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11 GK Flag of Ireland.svg Gerard Doherty (1981-08-24)24 August 1981 (aged 29) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
161 GK Flag of Ireland.svg Barry Murphy (1985-06-08)8 June 1985 (aged 26) Flag of Ireland.svg Bohemians
22 DF Flag of Ireland.svg Owen Heary (1976-10-04)4 October 1976 (aged 34) Flag of Ireland.svg Bohemians
42 DF Flag of Ireland.svg Aidan Price (1981-12-08)8 December 1981 (aged 29) Flag of Ireland.svg Bohemians
52 DF Flag of Ireland.svg Ryan McBride (1989-12-15)15 December 1989 (aged 21) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
62 DF Flag of Ireland.svg Ger O'Brien (1984-07-02)2 July 1984 (aged 27) Flag of Ireland.svg Bohemians
142 DF Ulster Banner.svg Daniel Lafferty (1989-04-01)1 April 1989 (aged 22) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
182 DF Flag of Ireland.svg Shane McEleney (1991-01-31)31 January 1991 (aged 20) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
2 DF Flag of Scotland.svg Stewart Greacen (1982-03-31)31 March 1982 (aged 29) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
2 DF Flag of Ireland.svg Simon Madden (1988-05-01)1 May 1988 (aged 23) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
2 DF Flag of Ireland.svg Danny Murphy (1982-12-04)4 December 1982 (aged 28) Flag of Ireland.svg Cork City
73 MF Flag of Ireland.svg Daniel Kearns (1991-08-26)26 August 1991 (aged 19) Flag of Ireland.svg Dundalk
83 MF Flag of Ireland.svg Joe Gamble (1982-01-14)14 January 1982 (aged 29) Flag of Ireland.svg Limerick
113 MF Flag of Ireland.svg James McClean (1989-04-22)22 April 1989 (aged 22) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
123 MF Ulster Banner.svg Ruaidhri Higgins (1984-10-23)23 October 1984 (aged 26) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
133 MF Flag of England.svg John Dillon (1991-08-26)26 August 1991 (aged 19) Flag of Ireland.svg Sligo Rovers
153 MF Ulster Banner.svg Barry Molloy (1983-11-29)29 November 1983 (aged 27) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
173 MF Flag of England.svg Dean Bennett (1977-12-13)13 December 1977 (aged 33) Flag of Ireland.svg Dundalk
193 MF Flag of Ireland.svg John Russell (1985-05-18)18 May 1985 (aged 26) Flag of Ireland.svg Sligo Rovers
203 MF Flag of Ireland.svg Stephen McLaughlin (1990-06-14)14 June 1990 (aged 21) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
213 MF Flag of Ireland.svg Gareth McGlynn (1982-10-29)29 October 1982 (aged 28) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
233 MF Flag of England.svg Danny Ventre (1986-01-23)23 January 1986 (aged 25) Flag of Ireland.svg Sligo Rovers
94 FW Flag of Libya.svg Éamon Zayed (1983-10-04)4 October 1983 (aged 27) Flag of Ireland.svg Derry City
104 FW Flag of Ireland.svg Daryl Kavanagh (1986-08-11)11 August 1986 (aged 24) Flag of Ireland.svg St Patrick's Athletic
224 FW Flag of Ireland.svg Jason Byrne (1978-02-23)23 February 1978 (aged 33) Flag of Ireland.svg Dundalk

Non-Irish players

Throughout the history of the League of Ireland, the vast majority of the players have come from either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Consequently, the League of Ireland XI has largely been made up of Irish players. However, there has always been a contingent of non-Irish players and, right from the beginning, they have been selected to play for the League of Ireland XI. Dave Roberts from England scored twice in the team's very first game. Another English-born player, Johnny Matthews, scored a penalty against Gordon Banks when the League of Ireland XI played the Football League XI in 1971 at Lansdowne Road. Like Roberts and Matthews, most of the non-Irish players have come from Great Britain but some have come from further afield.

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References

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