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Umbro Junior International Quadrangular Tournament
When the Football Association of the Irish Free State was formed as a breakaway from the Irish Football Association on June 1st 1921, it would take the fledgling body five years to play its first full senior international - against Italy on 21st March 1926.
But in these five years there was many representative teams fielded by the Southern association, at amateur and junior level - the earliest record, a junior game against Scotland at Celtic Park in late 1921.
Although there have always been games at junior level since, the Umbro Quadrangular tournament has really been the event to cement regular competition at this level - competed for biennially between Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Scotland - this is the 12th running of the competition.
This year the hosts were the IFA and the competition was played in Newcastle, Co. Down. The event kicked-off on Wednesday April 21st when Northern Ireland took on Scotland at Drumaness Mills and the Isle of Man played the Republic of Ireland at Rathfriland Rangers.
There was five AUL players selected for the 20-strong squad for the tournament, and among them was Ashbourne United's player/assistant manager Ger McCarthy. Ger was given his debut in the first game against the Isle of Man and although playing wide right instead of his favoured centre forward position, Ger played the full 90 minutes and crossed the ball for the only goal of the game, scored by Pike Rovers', Keith Hartnett. Team: D. Conroy, M. Coady, B. Buckley, J. Walsh, C. Dillon, T. Scully, S. Crowe, G. McCarthy, W. Fitzgerald, D. Lacey, T. Fittzgerald. Subs: E. Hanrahan (S. Crowe), N. Andrews (T. Fitzgerald), K. Hartnett (T. Scully).
On the same night Scotland beat Northern Ireland 0 v 2 to put them top of the group on goal difference.
On Thursday 22nd, the Republic played out a 1 v 1 draw with Northern Ireland in Banbridge - Ballina Towns Michael Duffy giving them the lead on 11 minutes when he slotted home from close range after Niall Andrews pressured the Northern Ireland goalkeeper into making a mistake. Again Ger McCarthy was in the starting eleven but with the toll of two games in two days was substituted after 75 minutes. Both sides had chances in the closing stages to win the game but on balance a draw was a fair result. Team: A. Walsh, S. O' Mahoney, J. Walsh, R. Carrig, B. Buckley, W. Fitzgerald, T. Scully, G. McCarthy, E. Hanrahan, M. Duffy, N. Andrews. Subs: R. Cosgrave for G. McCarthy (75), K. Hartnett for T. Scully (78), D. Lacey for N. Andrews (60), M. Coady for E. Hanrahan (55).
That same evening, the Isle of Man and Scotland played out a 2 v 2 draw in the other game at Killyleagh YC. The Republic of Ireland headed into Saturdays game against Scotland needing a win as a draw would make Scotland Champions, due to their better goal difference. The final games of the tournament took place on Saturday afternoon, April 24th - Northern Ireland v Isle of Man at Drumaness Mills and Republic of Ireland v Scotland at Banbridge Town.
A crowd of nearly two hundred Irish supporters travelled to cheer on the boys in green in their bid to end Scotland's dominance of this tournament. A large crowd of supporters had travelled from Tipperary in the hope of seeing the Republics all time record cap holder, and captain, James Walsh (59 caps), lift the trophy.
Ashbourne's Ger McCarthy lined out for his third successive cap and could've opened the scoring for the Republic when he had a clear shot on goal within two minutes, but he appeared to be stretching and snatched at the shot, firing wide. Moments later, Scotland scored in their first attack, and took the lead after 5 minutes. From a long range shot, Irish keeper, Dave Conroy, made a good save but the rebound fell kindly for Scotland and was finished well from the edge of the box. A very dubious penalty made it 2 v 0 after 30 minutes; it was awarded for handball, which only the officials appeared to see.
Ireland came out stronger in the second half and missed a host of chances but were reduced to 10 men when St. Michael's, Paul Breen, was sent off on the linesmans advice, for an off the ball incident. Evergreens' Niall Andrews bundled in a goal 5 minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish, but Scotland held on to be crowned champions for the fourth successive tournament.
Pic caption: Ashbourne United's Ger McCarthy (far right) and his AUL colleagues, display their junior caps.