Since the first match between England and Ireland was played more than thirty years have elapsed, and during the long interval the Hibernians have been struggling to lower the prestige of English football. Thrice they went within an ace of  achieving their ambition, but not until Saturday were their hopes realised, when on the well-equipped ground of the Linfield Club, Belfast, the England eleven were beaten by two goals to one, and thus a long sequence of English victories was brought to a close. There was nothing in the nature of a fluke about Ireland's initial success. For a good portion of the first half, and for the entire second portion, Ireland had to play without Macauley, who was injured, and this only serves to emphasise the completeness of the triumph. It would be unjust to detract from the merit of Ireland's victory, but the fact remains that for the greater part of the game the Irishmen were palpably outclassed by a side which showed they could play grand spectacular football, but as clearly demonstrated their utter incapability to score goals. In the first half the English forwards dazzled all the Irish backs, except Harris and Hampton, by the brilliance of their footwork. Mordue and Buchan, backed up by their club-mate, Cuggy, delighted a crowd of about twenty thousand by their delightful passing, and Wall and Smith likewise often baffled the opposition. The backs likewise frequently shone in defence and attack, but instead of leading at the interval by a few goals England could claim no advantage, for a fine goal scored by Buchan thirty-six minutes from the start was nullified by one for Ireland just on half-time, Benson diverting into the net a well-directed header from Gillespie, who got on to the ball after Williamson had punched it up into the air from a corner kick.
   Ireland took the lead twelve minutes from the restart through Gillespie, who got to a centre by Thompson and beat the English goalkeeper from close range. Even then England should have won, some grand chances given the inside men by Mordue and wall going a-begging. England lost because she had no scoring forwards, for if Ireland had a bad time of it trying to save her goal for the greater part of the first half, she was almost as sorely pressed in the second. Nor did the defence cover themselves with glory. Williamson is not the great goalkeeper he once was, neither is Crompton the great back he was, and it is doubtful if Boyle, Utley, and Benson pleased those responsible for their inclusion in the team. Cuggy, however, got along very well with Mordue and Buchan, but though Mordue and Buchan made a fine wing, and quite outshone the left, the hero of the match was Harris, the Everton half back, who in the ecentre of the middle line was practically at times playing the whole English forward line himself. Hampton also made a fine show; indeed, the middle men bore the brunt of the English attack, for the full backs were shaky and erratic. Macauley and Thompson were the stronger wing, Houston and Hannon being seldom in the hunt. Gillespie in the centre playwed welll under deifficulties, and maintained his reputation as a scoring forward. Scott, the goalkeeper, it should be mentioned, kept a fine goal, several of his saves in each half being splendidly executed. It was Harris who led Ireland to victory.