The All-Ireland League proposals are reminiscent of the occasion in 1973 when an All-Ireland team was assembled to take on the current World Champions, Brazil, at Lansdowne Road. The match provided an opportunity for a debate about the feasibility of an all-Ireland international side. The match was organised by Shamrock Rovers supremo (and near executioner 14 years later) Louis Kilcoyne. The Irish national anthem was not played. There was no national flag flying over the stadium and the brass band entertaining the crowd were requested not to play any rabble-rousing political tunes (they did play A Nation Once Again however…).
Kilcoyne stated at the match his hopes for the reunification of the national team: “We have done our bit. The next move is up to the legislators North and South and I can only hope they will take tonight’s lesson to heart. Obviously the players want reunification and the reception given our players surely is proof that the public think along the same lines.” Kilcoyne’s proposal was never remotely considered seriously. The IFA did not send any representatives to the match and there was little support for such a proposal in Northern Ireland. 1973 was one of the most bloody years of the Northern Ireland conflict with 253 people killed. Even players as popular as Pat Jennings suffered from
taunts from elements of the Northern Ireland supporters for being a Catholic.
The match itself was a wonderful spectacle. In front of 34,000 people, Ireland staged a brave fight in coming from 4-1 down to finish the match 4-3. Brazil took the lead in the 13th minute when Tommy Carroll conceded a penalty that was dispatched by Paulo Cesar. Ireland came close to an equaliser in the 20th minute when Derek Dougan got his head to a Johnny Giles corner only for his effort to be headed against the underside of the bar by Pareira. Ireland did get level on 28 minutes with a wonderfully worked goal from Mick Martin. Don Givens then had a great effort hit the crossbar after 42 minutes. Ireland’s bad luck was punished by Brazil one minute later when the legendary
Jairzinho finished superbly past Jennings. It was 3-1 on 51 minutes when Cesar scored his second – a typically brilliant 25 yard effort. It looked like a cricket score was on the cards when Rivelino set up Valdomiro to make it 4-1.
Ireland introduced Bryan Hamilton into the fray in place of Don Givens and the Ipswich man soon made a huge impact. Hamilton linked up with Terry Conroy, whose cross from the right met Dougan and the centre-forward blasted past Leao to make it 4-2. Dougan came close again in the 75th minute but Ireland did make it 4-3 in the 79th minute when Conroy scored following a goalmouth scramble. Ireland pushed on for an equaliser but in the closing stages Jennings was called upon to keep the scoreline respectable by saving Cesar’s penalty.
