Match Summary

Ireland Team

England Team

The Association game in Ireland has not advanced in skill in the same degree as that of the Rugby Union and in most points of play it ill compares with the form of a picked English side. In the 17 years of the match between England and Ireland the Englishmen have not known defeat, and the only instance of anything approaching a check was in 1894 when a tie of two goals occurred. England's victory at Belfast on Saturday was gained by three goals to two, and had the conditions been less unkind--the snow and rain quickly ruined the surface of the field of play--the Englishmen would no doubt have done much better. As it was they could never thoroughly develop their game, such was the bad state of the turf. Sufficient was, however, seen of the relative merits of the teams to stamp England as much the better, particularly as regards the half-back and forward work. Ireland were strong at full-back, and in goal for them Scott was very good, while now and again their forwards put in some skilful individual work. James Pyper actually scored the first point for Ireland ; but the visitors generally had more of the game, and goals by Richards and Athersmith gave England a half-time lead of two to one. Subsequently each side scored once, and England won by three to two. Such has been the triumph of English football in the Irish matches that in addition to winning 16 out of 17 England's aggregate of goals has now reached 101 to Ireland's 11. There were over 10,000 spectators of Saturday's game. - The Times - Monday 7th March, 1898

Source Notes

Michael Cochrane's year of birth is deliberated from his death, he was 37 years old when he died in April 1912, giving him a birth year of 1874/75. But there is no entry in the Irish Civil Registration to specify a date. (possibly 20 October 1877).

Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
Original Newspaper Reports
TheFA.com
Rothman's Yearbooks
FA Yearbooks 1950-60
Ancestry.com
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CG