On This Day in Irish Football – 31st May 31st May 1921: Billy Walsh was born on this day in Dublin. Having moved to Gorton, Manchester at the age of seven, he started his career with Manchester City and played with the Maine Road club during the Sec
On This Day in Irish Football – 31st May
31st May 1921: Billy Walsh was born on this day in Dublin. Having moved to Gorton, Manchester at the age of seven, he started his career with Manchester City and played with the Maine Road club during the Second World War. After the war, he played for Chelmsford City and Grimsby Town before emigrating to New Zealand to play for Eastern Suburbs where he would feature for a New Zealand XI against an English FA Touring side at the age of 40. He made nine appearances for Ireland between 1946 and 1950, making his debut in a 1–0 defeat to England on 30th September 1946 at Dalymount Park and was a member of the team that defeated England by 2-0 at Goodison Park in September 1949 – the first defeat suffered on home soil to a non-British team. He passed away in Australia on 28th July 2006.
31st May 1968: Brian Carey was born on this day in Cork. The former centre-back started at his hometown club Cork City before he moved to Manchester United in 1989. He never made an appearance for the first-team and went on to have spells with Leicester City and Wrexham. He made three appearances for the Republic of Ireland between 1992 and1994 having made his debut against the United States at Lansdowne Road on 29th April 1992.
31st May 2014: The Republic of Ireland and Italy drew 0-0 in an international friendly at Craven Cottage. The attendance was 22,879.
31st May 2016: The Republic of Ireland suffered a 2-1 defeat to Belarus on the eve of UEFA EURO 2016 at Turner's Cross in Cork. It was the first time Ireland had played an international in Cork since 1985 against Spain. Mikhail Gordeichuk (20) put Belarus ahead and Maksim Valadzko (63) doubled their lead before Stephen Ward (72) scored Ireland's only goal of the game. It was the final appearance for goalkeepers Shay Given and David Forde.
