Republic of Ireland B national football team
Encyclopedia
Republic of Ireland B is the reserve team
of the Republic of Ireland national football team
. There are no competitions for B teams. However since 1957 the Football Association of Ireland
has arranged occasional friendlies.
players were getting fewer opportunities to break into the senior team, these games were seen as a chance for these players to gain some international experience. The Republic of Ireland B played their first game on October 20, 1957 at Dalymount Park
against Romania B
. They held the visitors to a 1-1 draw. Three days later, on October 23, the Romanians lost 6-0 to a Northern Ireland B
team.
In August 1958 a Republic of Ireland B team travelled to Reykjavik
and beat Iceland
3-2. Then in September 1960, Iceland made a return visit to Dalymount Park, this time losing 2-1. On both occasions Iceland fielded their senior team and the Football Association of Iceland
regard these games as full internationals. In between the two games against Iceland, the Republic of Ireland B also beat South Africa
1-0 at Dalymount Park. The South Africans also regard this as a full international. Several League of Ireland players who played in these games subsequently played for the senior Republic of Ireland
team. These included Christy Doyle
, who had scored against both Iceland and South Africa, Jackie Hennessy
who had scored twice against Iceland and Liam Tuohy
.
After the game against Iceland in 1960 it would be thirty years before a Republic of Ireland B team officially played again. However on May 24, 1971, the FAI, celebrating its Golden Jubilee
arranged a special game at Lansdowne Road
. This should have been a full international, however their opponents, England
, only sent a B team. Steve Heighway
scored for an unofficial Republic of Ireland B team in the subsequent 1-1 draw.
, B internationals were revived and during the 1990s the Republic of Ireland B played England B
twice. They recorded their biggest win to date when they beat England B 4-1 at Turner's Cross on March 27, 1990. However four years later England B avenged this defeat when they beat the Republic of Ireland B 2-0 at Anfield
on December 1, 1994. This remains their biggest defeat to date.
In between the two games against England B, the Republic of Ireland B also beat Denmark B
2-0 at Tolka Park
on February 12, 1992. Under Mick McCarthy
, the Republic of Ireland B played a further three games, including two against a League of Ireland XI
and one against a Northern Ireland B
team.
as manager of the Republic of Ireland B and as League of Ireland
co-ordinator. The intention was for Devlin to monitor players in the league, report on potential international players and introduce them to international football at B level. Since then the Republic of Ireland B has played and drawn with Scotland B
twice. In 2008, a team playing as Republic of Ireland XI overcame Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park
. This team was, in effect, an Ireland B team.
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Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
of the Republic of Ireland national football team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. There are no competitions for B teams. However since 1957 the Football Association of Ireland
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...
has arranged occasional friendlies.
Early B internationals
The FAI first introduced B internationals during the 1950s. In an era when League of IrelandLeague 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...
players were getting fewer opportunities to break into the senior team, these games were seen as a chance for these players to gain some international experience. The Republic of Ireland B played their first game on October 20, 1957 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...
against Romania B
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
. They held the visitors to a 1-1 draw. Three days later, on October 23, the Romanians lost 6-0 to a Northern Ireland B
Northern Ireland B national football team
Northern Ireland B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the Northern Ireland national football team. Primarily seen as a stepping-stone between the Under-21 and Full international teams, the matches are also used to give a run-out for fringe players and to honour Irish...
team.
In August 1958 a Republic of Ireland B team travelled to Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
and beat Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
3-2. Then in September 1960, Iceland made a return visit to Dalymount Park, this time losing 2-1. On both occasions Iceland fielded their senior team and the Football Association of Iceland
Football Association of Iceland
The Football Association of Iceland is the governing body of football in Iceland. It was founded on 26 March 1947, joined FIFA the same year, and UEFA in 1954. It organizes the football league, Pepsi deild, and the Iceland national football team and Iceland women's national football team...
regard these games as full internationals. In between the two games against Iceland, the Republic of Ireland B also beat South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
1-0 at Dalymount Park. The South Africans also regard this as a full international. Several League of Ireland players who played in these games subsequently played for the senior Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
team. These included Christy Doyle
Christy Doyle
Christy Doyle was an Irish footballer who played with Shelbourne from 1957-1961 scoring 36 goals in 60 League of Ireland appearances.Doyle helped Shels to the FAI Cup in 1960 as they defeated Cork Hibernians 2-0 in the final at Dalymount Park....
, who had scored against both Iceland and South Africa, Jackie Hennessy
Jackie Hennessy
Jackie Hennessy was an Irish footballer who played with St. Patrick's Athletic, Shelbourne and Derry City during his career. He also earned 5 international call-ups to the Republic of Ireland team, debuting during the 1965-66 League of Ireland season against West Germany. In 1960 he scored twice on...
who had scored twice against Iceland and Liam Tuohy
Liam Tuohy (footballer)
Liam Tuohy is a former Irish footballer and manager. During the 1950s and 1960s. Tuohy played as an outside left for Shamrock Rovers, Newcastle United, and the Republic of Ireland. In 1959 while playing for Ireland, Tuohy scored the first ever goal in the history of the European Championship...
.
After the game against Iceland in 1960 it would be thirty years before a Republic of Ireland B team officially played again. However on May 24, 1971, the FAI, celebrating its Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
arranged a special game at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
. This should have been a full international, however their opponents, England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, only sent a B team. Steve Heighway
Steve Heighway
Stephen Derek "Steve" Heighway is a former footballer who was part of the hugely successful Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:...
scored for an unofficial Republic of Ireland B team in the subsequent 1-1 draw.
1990s
Under Jack CharltonJack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
, B internationals were revived and during the 1990s the Republic of Ireland B played England B
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
twice. They recorded their biggest win to date when they beat England B 4-1 at Turner's Cross on March 27, 1990. However four years later England B avenged this defeat when they beat the Republic of Ireland B 2-0 at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
on December 1, 1994. This remains their biggest defeat to date.
In between the two games against England B, the Republic of Ireland B also beat Denmark B
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
2-0 at Tolka Park
Tolka Park
Tolka Park is an Irish football ground located in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra, on the northern banks of the River Tolka. It is currently the home ground of League of Ireland club Shelbourne...
on February 12, 1992. Under Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
, the Republic of Ireland B played a further three games, including two against a League of Ireland XI
League of Ireland XI
The League of Ireland XI, known as of 2010 as the Airtricity League XI for sponsorship reasons, is the representative select team for the League of Ireland which operates in the Republic of Ireland.The select first played the Scottish League XI in 1938....
and one against a Northern Ireland B
Northern Ireland B national football team
Northern Ireland B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the Northern Ireland national football team. Primarily seen as a stepping-stone between the Under-21 and Full international teams, the matches are also used to give a run-out for fringe players and to honour Irish...
team.
Recent Years
In April 2006 the FAI announced that Pat Devlin would join the management team of Steve StauntonSteve Staunton
Stephen "Steve" Staunton is an Irish association football manager and former professional footballer, who was most recently manager of Darlington...
as manager of the Republic of Ireland B and as 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...
co-ordinator. The intention was for Devlin to monitor players in the league, report on potential international players and introduce them to international football at B level. Since then the Republic of Ireland B has played and drawn with Scotland B
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
twice. In 2008, a team playing as Republic of Ireland XI overcame Nottingham Forest 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...
. This team was, in effect, an Ireland B team.
Results
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