Irish Dual Internationals

- Dual Internationals -

- Irish - Other Nations - Opposition -

In the tumultuous years that followed the 'split' in Irish football along political lines, both associations claimed authority over the whole island, and the right to be considered the true "Ireland" football team. As such, many players represented both the Irish FA (what is now Northern Ireland) and the FAI (what is now the Republic of Ireland, but known initially as the Irish Free State, then Eire from 1937). 

In more recent years the FAI have been taking advantage of the Republic of Ireland's citizenship laws and a number of Northern Ireland-born (and capped at various levels) players have turned out for the Dublin-based team. However, the first player of the modern era to have been awarded senior caps by both nations was Alex Bruce.

Dublin-born "Dual International" 
Jimmy Dunne in his IFA colours

1924-1957 

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) was formed in Dublin September 1921 and admitted to FIFA in 1923 as the Football Association of the Irish Free State, having jurisdiction over the 26 counties therein. While the Irish FA had lost control over club football in the southern part of the island, they retained the right to select international players from those born throughout Ireland. 

The Free State first fielded an international eleven at the 1924 Olympics. Over the next decade they (almost) exclusively selected players born within their own borders. In the mid-1930s, roughly coinciding with the ratification of the Constitution if Ireland which asserted the Dublin governments claim over "the whole island of Ireland" the FAI began to look to Northern-born players on a more regular basis. 

Both associations sought to limit the control of the other. The FAI suspended a number of players affiliated to their clubs who had accepted call-ups from the IFA. The Irish FA put pressure on their English and Scottish counterparts to prevent their clubs for releasing players for Eire internationals. Similar pressure was later applied in the opposite direction.

When both "Irelands" entered the 1950 World Cup qualifying series a number of players played for both teams in the same tournament and FIFA was forced to step in and limit the IFA and the FAI to selecting players from within their own borders. It would be another four years before FIFA again stepped in to assert that the names of the teams would be Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

When asked, most players were delighted to have the opportunity to play for both teams. Representing the IFA offered the chance to play against the star names of England and Scotland, while playing for the FAI brought the chance to travel across Europe, far beyond the sights and sounds of Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow or Wrexham had they played exclusively in the British Championships with the Northern-team.

The Irish Free State team line-up in Paris for the 1924 Olympic Games
- their first international experience

Full, Victory & Amateur Internationals capped by both the IFA and the FAI

Player	PoB	IFA			FAI
		Caps	Gls	Career	Caps	Gls	Career
Bud Aherne	LIM	4	0	1946-49	16	0	1946-53
Jimmy Bermingham	DUB*	Amat		1930	1	0	1929
Tommy Breen	LOU	9	0	1935-39	5	0	1937-47
Ned Brooks	DUB	1	0	1920	1	3	1924
Johnny Brown	BEL	10	1	1935-39	2	1	1937
Jackie Carey	DUB	7	0	1946-49	30	3	1937-52
Harry Chatton	FER	3	0	1924-25	3	0	1931-34
Frank Collins	DUB	1	0	1922	2	0	1927
Hugh Connolly Ernie Crawford~	LDY BEL	0 0	0 0	- -	1 0	0 0	1936 1924
Tom Davis	DUB	1	1	1936	4	4	1936-38
Tom Donnelly	FER	0	0	-	2	1	1937-38
Harry Duggan	DUB	8	0	1929-35	6	1	1927-37
Jimmy Dunne	DUB	7	4	1928-32	17	15	1930-39
Tommy Eglington	DUB	6	0	1946-48	24	2	1946-55
Tom Farquharson	DUB	7	0	1923-25	4	0	1929-31
Paddy Farrell	WEM	1	0	1938	2	0	1937
Peter Farrell	DUB	7	0	1946-49	28	3	1946-57
Johnny Feenan	DOW	0	0	-	3	0	1937
Patsy Gallagher	DON	11	0	1919-27	1	0	1931
Bill Gorman	SLI	4	0	1946-48	14	0	1936-47
Dinny Hannon	WEM	6	1	1908-13	2	0	1924
Billy Hayes	COR	4	0	1937-38	2	0	1946-47
Frank Heaney #	DUB	Amat		1914-21	0	0	1924
Fred Horlacher	DUB	Amat		1931	8	2	1930-36
Mick Hoy	ARM	0	0	-	6	0	1937-39
Davy Jordan	BEL	0	0	-	2	1	1937
Peter Kavanagh	DUB	1	0	1929	2	0	1931
Rory Keane	LIM	1	0	1948	4	0	1948-49
Jimmy Kelly	DON	11	4	1931-36	5	2	1932-36
Billy Lacey	WEX	23	3	1909-24	3	0	1927-30
Owen Madden	COR	1	0	1937	1	1	1936
Christy Martin	WEM	1	0	1925	1	0	1927
Con Martin	DUB	6	0	1946-50	30	6	1946-56
Jimmy McAlinden	BEL	4	0	1937-48	2	0	1946
Jack McCarthy	DUB*	Amat		1921	6	0	1924-30
Emmet McLoughlin	IRE*	Amat		1951-52	1	0	1948
Billy McMillan	ANT	VI		1945-46	1	0	1946
Paddy Moore	DUB	1	0	1932	9	7	1931-36
Mick O'Brien	ENG*	10	0	1921-27	4	0	1927-32
Jackie O'Driscoll	COR	3	0	1948-49	3	0	1948-49
Kevin O'Flanagan	DUB	Amat/VI		1946-50	10	3	1937-47
Matt O'Mahoney	KIK	1	0	1938	6	0	1938-39
Reg Ryan	DUB	1	0	1950	16	3	1949-55
Joshua Sloan	ARM	1	0	1947	2	1	1946
Alex Stevenson	DUB	17	5	1933-47	7	0	1932-48
Jackie Vernon	BEL	17	0	1946-51	2	0	1946
Davy Walsh	WAT	9	5	1946-50	20	5	1946-53
Willie Walsh	DUB	5	0	1947-48	9	0	1946-50
Ned Weir	IRE*	1	0	1939	3	0	1939

• 

  Ernie Crawford -
  almost a double
  dual international

  Players in BLUE capped at Full level by both the IFA and FAI. Players in GREEN capped in Amateur and/or Victory by the IFA and Full level by the FAI. Players in WHITE born within the borders of what is now Northern Ireland, but only capped by the FAI.
• * McLoughlin born in either Londondery or Donegal. Weir grew up in Scotland but was born in an unknown location in Ireland. O'Brien believed to be born in England with no direct Irish links. Bermingham and McCarthy believed to have been born in Dublin but further confirmation is required.
• # Frank Heaney capped by IFA at Amateur level and included in the Irish Free State's 1924 Olympic squad, but not capped.
• ~ Ernie Crawford was a Belfast-born full-back who was part of the Free State's 1924 Olympic squad. He was most noted as a rugby player, winning 30 caps for Ireland from 1920-1927.

Our first home game.. 96 years ago today.
An extremely rare programme from the game, Ireland 🇮🇪, captained by Frank Brady, lost 2 1 to Italy 🇮🇹, with a goal by Bob Fullam.
35 years thinking I'd never see 1 in person, never mind own it, by far the rarest part of my collection. pic.twitter.com/87dPGxCOoP

— Andy Brady (@SweeperBrady) April 22, 2023

Irish Free State / Eire Full International Results 1924-1957

#	Date	Opponent	Ven	Res	Comp	Dual Full Int'ls				IFA Amat/ Vict Int'l*	NI Born
						Tot	NI	RoI	Oth/?
1	28/05/24	Bulgaria	N	W 1-0	OG	1		1		1
1924 Paris Olympics - Dinny Hannon, Jack McCarthy (Am) Matches at the Olympic games (and the post-tournament friendlies) are not recognised as Full internationals by "British" standards (they'd be Amateur Internationals by British tradition), but were recognised by FIFA in 1999 and the FAI in 2024.
2	02/06/24	Netherlands	N	L 1-2	OG	1		1		1
1924 Paris Olympics - Dinny Hannon, Jack McCarthy (Am)
3	03/06/24	Estonia	N	W 3-1	FR	0				1
Post-Olympics friendly in Paris - Jack McCarthy (Am)
4	14/06/24	United States	H	W 3-1	FR	2		2
Post-Olympics friendly in Dublin, Irish Free States first home match - Frank Collins, Ned Brooks [3]
5	21/03/26	Italy	A	L 0-3	FR	0				1
Jack McCarthy (Am)
6	23/04/27	Italy "B"	H	L 1-2	FR	5		4	1
Match considered a "B" international by Italy (their "A" team played France in Paris the following day), but is held as a full international by the FAI. Harry Duggan (Leeds United) became first foreign-based player to play for the Irish Free State. Frank Collins, Billy Lacey, Harry Duggan, Christy Martin, Mick O'Brien (Eng)
7	12/02/28	Belgium	A	W 4-2	FR	1		1		1
Billy Lacey, Jack McCarthy (Am)
8	20/04/29	Belgium	H	W 4-0	FR	2		1	1	1
Tom Farquharson, Mick O'Brien (Eng), Jimmy Bermingham (Am)
9	11/05/30	Belgium	A	W 3-1	FR	5		4	1	2
Tom Farquharson, Mick O'Brien (Eng), Jimmy Dunne [2], Harry Duggan, Billy Lacey, Jack McCarthy (Am), Fred Horlacher (Am)
10	26/04/31	Spain	A	D 1-1	FR	4	1	3
Harry Chatton becomes first Northern Ireland-born player to represent the Irish Free State Tom Farquharson, Peter Kavanagh, Paddy Moore [1], Harry Chatton (NI)
11	13/12/31	Spain	H	L 0-5	FR	4	1	3		1
Tom Farquharson, Peter Kavanagh, Patsy Gallagher, Harry Chatton (NI), Fred Horlacher (Am)
12	08/05/32	Netherlands	A	W 2-0	FR	4		3	1	1
Paddy Moore [1], Jimmy Kelly, Alex Stevenson, Mick O'Brien (Eng), Fred Horlacher (Am)
13	25/02/34	Belgium	H	D 4-4	WQ	2		2
Paddy Moore [4], Jimmy Kelly
14	08/04/34	Netherlands	A	L 2-5	WQ	2	1	1		1
Paddy Moore [1], Harry Chatton (NI), Fred Horlacher (Am)
15	16/12/34	Hungary	H	L 2-4	FR	1		1		1
Paddy Moore, Fred Horlacher (Am)
16	05/05/35	Switzerland	A	L 0-1	FR	0
none
17	08/05/35	Germany	A	L 1-3	FR	1		1
Paddy Moore
18	08/12/35	Netherlands	H	L 3-5	FR	1		1		1
Paddy Moore, Fred Horlacher (Am) [2]
19	17/03/36	Switzerland	H	W 1-0	FR	3		3
Jimmy Dunne [1], Jimmy Kelly, Fred Horlacher (Am)
20	03/05/36	Hungary	A	D 3-3	FR	4		4
Jimmy Dunne [2], Owen Madden, Harry Duggan, Bill Gorman
21	09/05/36	Luxembourg	A	W 5-1	FR	4		4
Jimmy Dunne [2], Jimmy Kelly [2], Harry Duggan, Bill Gorman
-	05/06/36	Rhineland	A	L 1-4	FR	4		4		1
Representative Match Jimmy Dunne [1], Bill Gorman, Harry Duggan, Jimmy Kelly, Fred Horlacher (Am)
22	17/10/36	Germany	H	W 5-2	FR	3		3		1
Paddy Moore, Tom Davis [2], Bill Gorman, Hugh Connolly (b.NI)
23	06/12/36	Hungary	H	L 2-3	FR	3		3
Paddy Moore, Tom Davis [1], Bill Gorman
24	17/05/37	Switzerland	A	W 1-0	FR	4	1	3			2
Tommy Breen, Jimmy Dunne [1], Paddy Farrell, Johnny Brown (NI), Johnny Feenan (b.NI), Davy Jordan (b.NI)
25	23/05/37	France	A	W 2-0	FR	4	1	3			2
Johnny Brown becomes first Northern Ireland-born goalscorer for Eire Tommy Breen, Jimmy Dunne, Paddy Farrell, Johnny Brown (NI) [1], Johnny Feenan (b.NI), Davy Jordan (b.NI)
26	10/10/37	Norway	A	L 2-3	WQ	1		1			2
Jimmy Dunne [1], Mick Hoy (b.NI), Tom Donnelly (b.NI)
27	07/11/37	Norway	H	D 3-3	WQ	4		4		1
Jimmy Dunne [1], Harry Duggan [1], Jackie Carey, Bill Gorman, Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI) [1]
28	18/05/38	Czechoslovakia	A	D 2-2	FR	5		5		1
Jimmy Dunne [1], Tom Davis, Jackie Carey, Matt O'Mahoney, Bill Gorman, Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI) [1]
29	22/05/38	Poland	A	L 0-6	FR	5		5		1
Jimmy Dunne, Tom Davis, Jackie Carey, Matt O'Mahoney, Bill Gorman, Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI)
30	18/09/38	Switzerland	H	W 4-0	FR	4		4			2
Jimmy Dunne [1], Jackie Carey, Bill Gorman, Matt O'Mahoney, Mick Hoy (b.NI), Tom Donnelly (b.NI)
31	13/11/38	Poland	H	W 3-2	FR	4		4		1	1
Jimmy Dunne [1], Jackie Carey [1], Matt O'Mahoney, Bill Gorman, Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI), Mick Hoy (b.NI)
32	19/03/39	Hungary	H	D 2-2	FR	4		3	1	1	1
Jimmy Dunne, Jackie Carey [1], Bill Gorman, Ned Weir (b.?), Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI), Mick Hoy (b.NI)
33	18/05/39	Hungary	A	D 2-2	FR	4		3	1	1	1
Jimmy Dunne, Jackie Carey, Matt O'Mahoney, Ned Weir (b.?), Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI) [2], Mick Hoy (b.NI)
34	23/05/39	Germany	A	D 1-1	FR	4		3	1	1	1
Jimmy Dunne, Jackie Carey, Matt O'Mahoney, Ned Weir (b.?), Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI), Mick Hoy (b.NI)
-	28/04/40	Scotland	H	L 2-3	WI	3	1	2			1
War-Time Representative Match (Scottish XI selected by Glasgow FA) Jimmy Dunne, Jackie Carey, Jim Twomey (tbc) (NI), Johnny Feenan (b.NI)
35	16/06/46	Portugal	A	L 1-3	FR	9	3	6		1
Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Davy Walsh, Tommy Eglington, Jackie Carey, Tommy Aherne, Jimmy McAlinden (NI), Joshua Sloan (NI), Jackie Vernon (NI), Billy Mc Millan (NI/VI)
36	23/06/46	Spain	A	W 1-0	FR	9	3	6		1
Jackie Carey, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington, Davy Walsh, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin, Jimmy McAlinden (NI), Joshua Sloan (NI) [1], Jackie Vernon (NI), Billy Mc Millan (NI/VI)
37	30/09/46	England	H	L 0-1	FR	8		8		1
Tommy Breen, Jackie Carey, Willie Walsh, Alex Stevenson, Tommy Eglington, Bill Gorman, Con Martin, Billy Hayes, Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI)
38	02/03/47	Spain	H	W 3-2	FR	8		8		1
Tommy Breen, Willie Walsh, Jackie Carey, Peter Farrell, Alex Stevenson, Tommy Eglington, Davy Walsh [2], Con Martin, Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI)
39	04/05/47	Portugal	H	L 0-2	FR	9		9		1
Tommy Breen, Jackie Carey, Willie Walsh, Davy Walsh, Peter Farrell, Alex Stevenson, Tommy Eglington, Bill Gorman, Billy Hayes, Kevin O'Flanagan (Am/VI)
40	23/05/48	Portugal	A	L 0-2	FR	7		7
Peter Farrell, Willie Walsh, Davy Walsh, Jackie Carey, Alex Stevenson, Tommy Eglington, Con Martin
41	30/05/48	Spain	A	L 1-2	FR	6		6
Peter Farrell, Willie Walsh, Davy Walsh, Jackie Carey, Alex Stevenson, Con Martin
42	26/07/48	Netherlands	N	L 1-2	OG	0				1
Emmet McLoughlin (b?/Am)
43	05/12/48	Switzerland	H	L 0-1	FR	8		8
Jackie O'Driscoll, Peter Farrell, Jackie Carey, Alex Stevenson, Tommy Eglington, Davy Walsh, Con Martin, Rory Keane
44	24/04/49	Belgium	H	L 0-2	FR	4		4
Jackie Carey, Willie Walsh, Jackie O'Driscoll, Con Martin
45	22/05/49	Portugal	H	W 1-0	FR	6		6
Jackie Carey, Tommy Eglington, Davy Walsh, Rory Keane, Con Martin, Peter Farrell [sub]
46	02/06/49	Sweden	A	L 1-3	WQ	6		6
Jackie Carey, Tommy Eglington, Jackie O'Driscoll, Davy Walsh [1], Rory Keane, Con Martin
47	12/06/49	Spain	H	L 1-4	FR	5		5
Jackie Carey, Peter Farrell, Davy Walsh, Rory Keane, Con Martin [2]
48	08/09/49	Finland	H	W 3-0	WQ	3		3
Jackie Carey, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin [2]
49	21/09/49	England	A	W 2-0	FR	6		6
Davy Walsh, Willie Walsh, Peter Farrell [1], Jackie Carey, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin [1]
50	09/10/49	Finland	A	D 1-1	WQ	5		5
Peter Farrell [1], Davy Walsh, Jackie Carey, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin
51	13/11/49	Sweden	H	L 1-3	WQ	7		7
Reg Ryan, Davy Walsh, Willie Walsh, Peter Farrell, Jackie Carey, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin [1]
52	10/05/50	Belgium	A	L 1-5	FR	4		4
Reg Ryan, Willie Walsh, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin
53	26/11/50	Norway	H	D 2-2	FR	5		5
Reg Ryan, Davy Walsh [1], Jackie Carey [1], Tommy Eglington, Tommy Aherne
54	13/05/51	Argentina	H	L 0-1	FR	7		7
Reg Ryan, Jackie Carey, Tommy Eglington, Peter Farrell, Davy Walsh, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin
55	30/05/51	Norway	A	W 3-2	FR	5		5
Reg Ryan, Davy Walsh, Jackie Carey, Peter Farrell [1], Tommy Aherne
56	17/10/51	Germany	H	W 3-2	FR	4		4
Reg Ryan, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington, Tommy Aherne
57	04/05/52	Germany	A	L 0-3	FR	5		5
Reg Ryan, Tommy Eglington, Peter Farrell, Tommy Aherne, Con Martin
58	07/05/52	Austria	A	L 0-6	FR	5		5
Tom Aherne, Reg Ryan, Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington
59	01/06/52	Spain	A	L 0-6	FR	6		6
Tom Aherne, Reg Ryan, Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington, Davy Walsh
60	16/11/52	France	H	D 1-1	FR	5		5
Jackie Carey, Tom Aherne, Reg Ryan, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington
61	25/03/53	Austria	H	W 4-0	FR	5		5
Jackie Carey, Reg Ryan, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington [1], Davy Walsh
62	04/10/53	France	H	L 3-5	WQ	6		6
Tom Aherne, Reg Ryan, Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington, Davy Walsh
63	28/10/53	Luxembourg	H	W 4-0	WQ	2		2
Reg Ryan, Tommy Eglington
64	25/11/53	France	A	L 0-1	WQ	5		5
Reg Ryan, Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington, Davy Walsh
65	07/03/54	Luxembourg	A	W 1-0	WQ	1		1
Con Martin
66	07/11/54	Norway	H	W 2-1	FR	4		4
Reg Ryan [1], Con Martin [1], Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington These were the last goals (of the era) scored for the FAI by Dual Internationals
67	01/05/55	Netherlands	H	W 1-0	FR	3		3
Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington
68	25/05/55	Norway	A	W 3-1	FR	1		1
Con Martin
69	28/05/55	Germany	A	L 1-2	FR	3		3
Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington
70	19/10/55	Yugoslavia	H	L 1-4	FR	2		2
Con Martin, Peter Farrell
71	27/11/55	Spain	H	D 2-2	FR	4		4
Reg Ryan, Con Martin, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington
72	10/05/56	Netherlands	A	W 4-1	FR	1		1
Con Martin
73	03/10/56	Denmark	H	W 2-1	WQ	0
none
74	25/11/56	Germany	H	W 3-0	FR	0
none
75	08/05/57	England	A	L 1-5	WQ	1		1
Peter Farrell (the last "Dual International" wins his final cap)

Mick Hoy's shirt from either the match against Hungary in Cork in March 1939, or the return game in Budapest several months later - both ended 2-2. Mick won a total of six caps for @FAIreland and played at left-back for the majority of his career for @DundalkFC #matchworn #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/WW9J2gaqei

— Ireland Match Shirts (@Ireland_shirts) January 19, 2021

Alex Bruce at Windsor Park

1957-date 

Relations between the two Irelands remained quietly cordial for the next few decades. The Shamrock Rovers XI vs Brazil match in 1973 raised some controversy in the press, but the two associations were united in their disapproval of the venture. In fact, behind the scenes there were ongoing conversations throughout the 1970s regarding some level of shared responsibility for Irish international footballing matters. These efforts fell by the wayside when the two teams met for the first time in qualifying for the 1980 European Championships and chances of a meaningful reconciliation diminished further as both countries enjoyed their own successes through the 1980s.

The next controversy that arose was when former Northern Ireland Schoolboy international, Alan Kernaghan, was capped by the Republic. Kernaghan, who although born in England, was raised in Bangor, Co. Down. By FIFA rules he was eligible for Northern Ireland through his locally-born grandparents, but the Home Nations had an agreement in place at the time that forbade the use of the "granny rule". The FAI stepped in to offer the player the chance of international football, and feeling it was his only chance, he agreed to play for Jack Charlton's team. Kernaghan duly helped the Republic of Ireland qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

In the 21st Century there have been many Northern-born or qualified players who have played international football at some level for both Irelands, with some bouncing back-and-forth over several years. Most of the movement happens among teenagers, but it seems no player is secured for either team until tied-in by a competitive full cap. Alex Bruce remains the only Full "dual international" of the modern era, while others have actually been "poached" by the FAI from the Northern Ireland full set-up [Shane Duffy, James McClean, Adam Barton and Mark Sykes].

Player	PoB	IFA	FAI
Adam Barton	ENG	1 Full	U21
Alex Bruce	ENG	2 Full	U21, B, 2 Full
Daniel Devine	BEL	Yth, U21	switched
Gerard Doherty	LDY	Full(cu)	Yth
Michael Duffy	LDY	Yth, U21	Yth, switched
Shane Duffy	LDY	Schl, Yth, U21, B, Full(cu)	Yth, U21, 41 Full
Paul George	DOW	Schl, Yth	Yth
Darron Gibson	LDY	Schl	Yth, U21, B, 27 Full
Johnny Gorman	ENG	Schl, Yth, U21, 9 Full	Yth
Ronan Hale	BEL	Schl	Yth, U21
Tony Kane	BEL	U21	U21
Daniel Kearns	BEL	Schl, Yth	Yth, U21, U23
Alan Kernaghan	ENG	Schl	22 Full
Liam McAlinden	ENG	Schl, U21	U21
James McClean	LDY	Yth, U21, Full(cu)	103 Full
Patrick McEleney	LDY	Schl	Yth
Shane McEleney	LDY	U21	Yth, U21
Callum Morris	ENG	Full(cu)	Yth, U21
Michael O'Connor	BEL	Schl, Yth, U21, B, 11 Full	U21(cu)
Eunan O'Kane	LDY	Schl, Yth, U21	U21, 7 Full
Mark Sykes	BEL	Yth, U21, Full(cu)	- Full
Marc Wilson	ARM	Schl (tbc)	Yth, U21, 25 Full

(cu) means call-up but not capped at a particular level

(not intended to be a comprehensive list)

Northern Ireland-born or qualified players who have played for the Republic of Ireland in major tournaments and/or in the English Premier League - could they have hlped Northern Ireland to greater success?

Liam Coyle lines-up for the
League of Ireland against
the Irish League in 1989

League of Ireland Representatives

Many Northern-born players have represented the League of Ireland in inter-league and other representative fixtues. These include:

• (incomplete) Brendan Bradley (3), Tommy Breen (3), Ned Brooks (1), David Campbell (1), Johnny Carey (1), Davy Cochrane (4),  Frank Collins (5), Liam Coyle (2), Gerard Doherty (1), Jimmy Dunne (6), Tommy Eglington (4), Willie Fallon (tbc? b. Antrim or Kerry?), Peter Farrell (7), John Feenan (1), Terry Harkin (2), Val Harris (2), Bill Hayes (2), Felix Healy (1), Ruaidhrí Higgins (?), Fred Horlacher (2), Mick Hoy (2), Peter Kavanagh (2), Daniel Kearns (1), Jimmy Kelly (3), Daniel Lafferty (?), John Lavery (1),  Owen Madden (2), Con Martin (tbc?), Gerry Matier (7),  Jimmy McAlinden (1), Kevin McAlinden (2), Jack McCarthy (1), James McClean (?), Paddy Moore (1), Kevin O'Flanagan (2), Alan Paterson (4), George Thompson (1), Charlie Tully (tbc?)

PoB KEY:

• Northern Counties: BEL - Belfast (city); ANT - Antrim, ARM - Armagh, DOW - Down, FER - Fermanagh, LDY - Londonderry, TYR - Tyrone
• Southern Counties: COR - Cork, DUB - Dublin, KIK - Kilkenny, LIM - Limerick, LOU - Louth, SLI - Sligo, WAT - Waterford, WEM - Westmeath, WEX - Wexford
• International: ENG - England