The 1923 Irish Free State Cup Final was contested by League of Ireland

League of Ireland

The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

 side Shelbourne

Shelbourne F.C.

Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....

 of Dublin and Alton United

Alton United F.C.

Alton United F.C. is a defunct Irish football club who were based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and played in the Falls District League.During their time in the Falls District League, Alton United played their home matches in the Falls Road area of Belfast at Shauns Park and also at Celtic Park, the...

 of Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

's Fall's League on 17 March at Dalymount Park

Dalymount Park

Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...

, Dublin.

Matchday Summary

Given the turbulent political situation in Dublin at the time, Alton United

Alton United F.C.

Alton United F.C. is a defunct Irish football club who were based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and played in the Falls District League.During their time in the Falls District League, Alton United played their home matches in the Falls Road area of Belfast at Shauns Park and also at Celtic Park, the...

 were given an armed escort from Amiens Street Station by the IRA

Irish Republican Army

The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...

. The Dubliners who were red hot favourites to lift the trophy in only its second year, played well below par and the visitors won it through the only goal.

Alton's players were presented with their medals after the game, but the Free State F.A.

Football Association of Ireland

The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...

 refused them permission to take the trophy back to Belfast with them due to the tense political situation there. Shortly after Alton affiliated to the Irish Football Association

Irish Football Association

The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...

 and therefore never defended the trophy the following season.

Match details

Shelbourne 0-1 Alton United

Scorer:McSherry

Shelbourne line-up:Paddy Walsh, Paddy Kavangh, James Connolly, Dan Delaney, Val Harris

Val Harris

Valentine Harris , commonly referred to as Val Harris, was an Irish footballer who played Gaelic football for Dublin and soccer for, among others Shelbourne, Everton and Ireland...

, Mick 'Boxer' Foley, Eddie Brierley, Stephen Doyle, Jimmy Harvey, Ralph Ardiff, Sammy Wilson

Alton United line-up: Jimmy Maginnis, Edward McNeill, Hugh Bell, Paddy Devlin, Michael Brennan, Bobby Loughran, Andy McSherry, Billy Duffy, Sammy Ward, Jack Russell, Hugh McCann

Attendance:14,000

Gate receipts:£694/11/0

Shelbourne

Home teams listed first.

Round 1: Shelbourne 9-0 Bray Unknowns

Bray Unknowns F.C.

Bray Unknowns were a football club who played in the League of Ireland for nineteen seasons from 1924-25 to 1942-43. Having played their first five league seasons in Woodbrook in Southside Dublin, they then moved back to Bray where they played their home games for the remainder of their time in the...

Round 2: St. James's Gate 1-2 Shelbourne

Semi-final: Shelbourne 2-0 Jacobs
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Alton United

Home teams listed first.

Round 1: Alton United 4-0 Midland Athletic
Abandoned 2nd half:bad light

Re-fixture: Alton United 5-0 Midland Athletic

Round 2: Shelbourne United

Shelbourne United

Shelbourne United Football Club was an Irish football club from Dublin, that spent two seasons playing in the League of Ireland from 1922 to 1924. In their first season in the League, they played their home matches at Anglesea Road and finished fourth...

 1-1 Alton United

Replay: Alton United 2-0 Shelbourne United

Shelbourne United

Shelbourne United Football Club was an Irish football club from Dublin, that spent two seasons playing in the League of Ireland from 1922 to 1924. In their first season in the League, they played their home matches at Anglesea Road and finished fourth...

Semi-final: Alton United 4-2 Fordsons

Fordsons F.C.

Fordsons Football Club is a former Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1924 and 1930. The club was originally the factory team of the Ford Motor Company, a major employer in the city at that time and was named after the Fordson tractor, resulting in the...

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