Today I'm going back eleven years to 2011 and a match between Wales and Northern Ireland as part of the short-lived Nations Cup competition. The game was played at Lansdowne Road in Dublin at the Republic of Ireland's Aviva Stadium. The game was attended by just 529 people including myself and my Wales-supporting friend Les Howells making it surely one of the lowest attendances for an International fixture ever especially considering that a significant number of the supporters present were Scots in town for their game against the Republic of Ireland two days later.
The Republic of Ireland were roundly criticised for their ticket pricing policy for the tournament and the low attendances ensured that there was to be no repeat of the competition. I have to say that that was a real shame as I enjoyed my week in Dublin and would have happily attended future versions of the tournament irrespective of English involvement.
Supporters of York City may be interested to know that former player Josh Carson earned a cap for Northern Ireland in the featured match, one of four caps for his country to date. Carson made 85 appearances in total for York scoring eight goals from midfield and was last seen in the Northern Ireland Football League playing for Coleraine. Leeds United fans will also be interested to learn that Stuart Dallas, "the Cookstown Cafu", made a substitute appearance in the match and has now earned 62 caps for Northern Ireland scoring three goals. There was another York City connection in the game as Northern Ireland were managed by Nigel Worthington.
The Welsh struck first after 35 minutes with a goal from Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey following several shots and a general failure by Northern Ireland to clear the ball. It was Ramsey's third goal for his country and, to date, he has made 72 appearances for Wales scoring 20 goals in an international career that is not quite over yet. After appearing for Cardiff City between 2006-08, Ramsey was signed by Arsenal and he went on to make 369 appearances for the Gunners scoring 64 goals. Lately Ramsey has been enjoying the twighlight of his career with Juventus in Italy and, more recently, with Rangers in Scotland and it was Ramsey who was responsible for missing the crucial penalty in the Gers 2022 Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt. Rather pleasingly for a Welshman, Ramsey is fluent in the Welsh language. I wonder how many of his Wales team mates can say the same?
Wales second goal was scored by substitute Robert Earnshaw who was allowed rather too much time in the box to turn and shoot past Jonathan Tuffey, the Northern Ireland keeper. Earnshaw looked rather pleased with his 16th goal for Wales and celebrated with a somersault. That goal proved to be his last for his country although, in all, he went on to make 59 appearances for Wales. Impressively Earnshaw managed 216 goals in a club career that took in 519 appearances.
The game was Northern Ireland's third of three in the round robin group and they finished bottom of the table following three defeats from three matches. Wales did little better and indeed their win against Northern Ireland was their only one as they finished third following two defeats and only one win. Pride of place went to the hosts, the Republic of Ireland, who won all three matches with Scotland ending up as runners up.
CRB Match No. 1822
Comments
Post a Comment