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| Association | Irish Football Association |
|---|---|
| FIFA code | N/A |
| First international | |
Template:Country data Ireland-1753 Ireland 0 - 13 England  (Belfast,; (February 18 1882) | |
| Biggest win | |
Template:Country data Ireland-1753 Ireland 7 - 2 Wales  (Belfast, ; (February 7 1891) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| Template:Country data Ireland-1753 Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, ; (February 18 1882) | |
Ireland national football team (1882-1920). Before 1921, all of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the island was represented by a single football team. Between 1882 and 1920 this team played 101 international games, all against England, Scotland and Wales. In 1914 Ireland were British Champions.
The team was organised by the Irish Football Association, formed in 1880 in Belfast to organise football throughout Ireland. Two years later, on February 18 1882 Ireland made their international debut against England, losing 13-0 in a friendly played at Bloomfield Park in Belfast. This remains the record win and defeat for both teams.
British Home Championships
From 1884 until 1920 Ireland regularly competed in the British Home Championship. During the early competitions Ireland were regularly defeated by big margins and they did not register their first victory until 1887, a 4-1 win over Wales in Belfast. Their second victory came in 1891 against the same opponents. The 7-2 scoreline was their biggest ever win. The championship was monopolised by England and Scotland until 1903 when Ireland forced a three way share. Despite losing their opening game 4-0 to England, the Irish went on to beat Scotland for the first time with a 2-0 win at Celtic Park. They then beat Wales 2-0 in Belfast.
On February 15 1913 they beat England for the first time with a 2-1 win at Windsor Park. In 1914 Ireland went further and won the championship out right with a team that included Patrick O’Connell and Liverpool legend Bill Lacey. After beating Wales 2-1 away, Ireland then beat England 3-0 at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough with Lacey grabbing two of the goals. They clinched the title following a 1-1 draw with Scotland at Windsor Park in Belfast.
IFA v FAI
In 1921 Ireland was partioned into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, later to become Republic of Ireland. A rival association, the Football Association of Ireland emerged in the Free State and organised a separate league and national team. At the same time the IFA continued to organise their own team. Both associations claimed the right to administer the game throughout the whole island and continued to refer to their team as Ireland. Several players including Paddy Moore, Johnny Carey and Peter Farrell were subsequently selected to represent both the FAI team and the IFA team. It was not until 1950 that FIFA intervened, placing restrictions on the selection of players and decreeing that the FAI team be officially designated the Republic of Ireland team while the IFA team became Northern Ireland.
Honours
- British Home Championship: 2
- 1903, 1914
- 1903 competition shared with England and Scotland