Ireland v Italy 1927

Having played 3 matches at the  Olympics, in June 1924 The Irish Free State entertained the USA in Dublin. These matches are frequently omitted from the list of internationals played by the Republic of Ireland.
In March 1926 The Irish Free State were beaten 3-0 by a strong Italian side in Turin.
The programme pictured above is for the 'return' match.
This was not considered a full international by the Italians, and the side was designated as Italy B (or Nazionale Cadetti). It was a decent side however, and all 11 starters would in time become full internationals.

GK	Frank Collins	Jacobs
FB	Frank Brady  c	Shamrock Rovers
FB	Alec Kirkland	Fordsons
HB	William Glen	Shamrock Rovers
HB	Michael O`Brien	Derby County
HB	Thomas Muldoon	Aston Villa
F	Bill Lacey	Shelbourne
F	Harry Duggan	Leeds United
F	Christopher Martin	Bo`ness
F	Bob Fullam	Shamrock Rovers
F	Joe Kendrick	Everton

               

GK	Mario Gianni	Bologna
FB	Mario Zanello	Pro Vercelli
FB	Delfo Bellini	Genoa
HB	Pietro Genovesi	Bologna
HB	Luigi Burlando	Genoa
HB	Alberto Giordani	Bologna
F	Federico Munerati	Juventus
F	Antonio Vojak	Juventus
F	Pietro Pastore	Milan
F	Enrico Rivolta	Internazionale
F	Luigi Cevenini c	Juventus
Sub.	Gianangelo Barzan (Milan) replaced Zanello

Bob Fulam and Federico Munerati were the goalscorers as Italy won 2-1 watched by an crowd of approximately 20,000.

Ireland, Ireland!

The Irish Football Association was formed in 1880 and, though focused on Belfast, was responsible for the administration of the game throughout the island. 
Although there were cultural and sectarian divisions, Ireland was a single country up until the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. The area now known as Northern ireland opted out of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic (founded in 1919). The south was known as the Irish Free State between 1922 and 1937, when it became the Republic of Ireland.

The situation regarding football now became complex. There was growing discontent in the south regarding what was percieved as northern bias on the part of the Irish Football Association. The IFA defended their position; the north, they argued, was the heartland of football in Ireland.
In September 1921 the Football Association of the Irish Free State (later known as the Football Association of Ireland) was formed by southern clubs and Leinster FA, which had seceded from The Irish Football Association.
Initially both the IFA and the FAI claimed to represent the whole of Ireland. Therefore during the period with which we are concerned, there existed a situation in which there were 2 bodies selecting 'all Ireland' sides. The Football Association of Ireland side was not not considered to represent only the Irish Free State.
In 1923 the Football Association of the Irish Free State joined FIFA and in 1924 the  Olympic Council of Ireland  selected a team to represent The Irish Free State at the Olympics.
In 1936 the  FAI adopted a policy of selecting Northern players, a practice that persisted until 1946. Therefore, between the foundation of the the Football Association of the Irish Free State and the end of the era this blog covers (summer 1937), a number of players were selected to represent both The Irish Football Association and the the Football Association of the Irish Free State (Football Association of Ireland).

For their campaign at the 1924 Olympic Games the Olympic Council of Ireland selected just 1 player who had previously been capped by the Irish Football Association :

	Irish Football Association		Olympic Council of Ireland
	Dates	Games	Dates	Games
Dinny Hannon	1908-13	6	1924	2
Inside right. Bohemians, Athlone Town.

The following players were selected by the Football Association of the Irish Free State/ Football Association of Ireland having previously represented the Irish Football Association:

	Irish Football Association		Football Association of Ireland
	Dates	Games	Dates	Games
Billy Lacey	1909- 24	23	1927-30	3
During his career he played in all 11 positions! Shelbourne, Everton, Liverpool, New Brighton, Cork Bohemians.
Jimmy Dunne	1928-32	7	1930-39	15
Forward.  Shamrock Rovers, New Brighton, Sheffield United, Arsenal, Southampton.
Jimmy Kelly	1931-36	11	1932-36	4
Outside right. Coleraine, Liverpool, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk, Ballymena United, Ballymoney United.
Tommy Breen	1935-39	9	1937-45	5
Goalkeeper.  Newry Town, Belfast Celtic, Manchester United, Linfield, Shamrock Rovers, Glentoran.
Mick O'Brien	1921-27	10	1927-32	4
Centre half/ forward. Blyth Spartans, Celtic,  Brentford, Norwich City,  South Shields,  Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Hull City, Brooklyn Wanderers,  Derby County, Walsall, Watford.
Jackie Brown	1935-39	10	1937	2
Outside right. Belfast Celtic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Birmingham City, Barry Town, Ipswich Town.
Patsy Gallagher	1919-27	11	1931	1
Inside-forward. Celtic, Falkirk.
Tom Farquharson	1923-25	7	1929-31	4
Goalkeeper. Cardiff City.
Harry Chatton	1924-25	3	1931-34	3
Half back.  Dumbarton, Partick Thistle, Indiana Flooring, Heart of Midlothian, New York Nationals, Shelbourne, Cork.
Peter Kavanagh	1929	1	1931	1
Outside left. Bohemians, Celtic, Northampton Town, Hibernian, Stranraer, Babcock & Wilcox, Waterford United.
Frank Collins	1922	1	1927	1
Goalkeeper. Jacobs, Celtic.
Christy Martin	1925	1	1927	1
Outside right. Bo'ness, Falkirk, Brooklyn Wanderers.
Ed Brooks	1920	1	1924	1
Forward.  Shelbourne, Bohemians, Stockport County and Athlone Town.

Billy Lacey

Peter Kavanagh

Alex Stevenson



These players first represented the Football Association of Ireland before being selected by the Irish Football Association: 

	Football Association of Ireland		Irish Football Association
	Dates	Games	Dates	Games
Alex Stevenson	1932-48	7	1934-48	17
Inside left. Dolphin, Glasgow Rangers, Everton
Harry Duggan	1927-37	5	1929-35	8
Outside right. Richmond United, Leeds United, Newport County.
Patrick Moore	1931-36	9	1932	1
Forward. Shamrock Rovers, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Tranmere Rovers, Aberdeen, Shelbourne, Brideville.
Tom Davis	1936-38	4	1938	1
Centre forward. Torquay United, New Brighton, FC Metz, Oldham Athletic, Tranmere Rovers, Cork City.
Owen Madden	1936	1	1937	1
Forward. Cork, Norwich City, Birmingham, Cork United.