Skip to main content

Inter-Provincial Representative Matches

Prior to World War One Ulster and Leinster faced each other in a regular series of matches designed to "bring out budding young internationals". The series was discontinued due to a lack of enthusiasm from "public, press, players and officials" with the last match on 2nd January 1909 resulting in a 3-0 win for Leinster.

Other representative matches were also held against representative teams from throughout the British Isles.

Ulster v. Leinster
Date
Venue

Score

1884/5
1885/6
1886/7
1887/8
-
1893/4
Belfast
Belfast
Dublin
Belfast
-
Belfast
Leinster
Ulster
Ulster
Ulster
-
Ulster
1-0
7-2
1-1
9-0
-
4-3
Ulster
Leinster
Leinster
Leinster
-
Leinster
1894/5
Dublin
Leinster
4-2
Ulster
1895/6
Belfast
Ulster
5-2
Leinster
1896/7
Dublin
Ulster
1-0
Leinster
1897/8
Belfast
Leinster
3-2
Ulster
1898/9
Dublin
Ulster
3-1
Leinster
1899/0
Belfast
Ulster
4-1
Leinster
1900/1
Dublin
Ulster
0-0
Leinster
1901/2
Belfast
Ulster
8-0
Leinster
1902/3
1903/4
Dublin
no game
Ulster
-
3-1
-
Leinster
-
1904/5
Dublin
Leinster
2-1
Ulster
1905/6
Belfast
Ulster
5-4
Leinster
1906/7
1907/8
1908/9
Dublin
Belfast
Dublin
Ulster
Ulster
Leinster
1-1
6-2
3-0
Leinster
Leinster
Ulster
Recreations of Ulster and Leinster kits
* Where recorded, Ulster wore white with a red hand badge, and Leinster wore red with black knickers. The Ulster side was selected by the Irish FA. The Leinster side was selected by the Leinster FA from 1893 onwards.

7th February 1885
Cliftonville Cricket Ground, Belfast (att: "very large")
Ulster (0) 0
Leinster (0) (W.D. Hamilton)
Ulster: Henderson (Ulster); Hewison (Moyola Park), J.T. Gibb (Wellington Park); Hastings (Ulster), Houston (Moyola Park), King (Wellington Park); McManus (Glentoran), McCoull (Ulster), Morrow (Magherafelt), Magee (Wellington Park), McKenna (Moyola Park)
Leinster: Lawson (Dublin AFC); Moorhead (Dublin University), Whitfield (Dublin University); Eames (Dublin University), Butler (Dublin AFC), Henderson (71st Highland Light Infantry); W.D. Hamilton (Dublin AFC), W.J. Hamilton (Dublin AFC), Smyth (Dublin University), Roper (Dublin University), Johnston (71st Highland Light Infantry)
Match was originally scheduled for the Ulster Cricket Ground but was moved due to flooding.
Henderson replaced the originally selected Goodbody (Dublin AFC). Other players named as substitutes in the initial Leinster squad were McCrum (Dublin University), Puny (Dublin University), Thornton (71st H.L.I.) and Brady (Dublin University).

30th January 1886
Ulster Cricket Grounds, Ballynafeigh, Belfast (att: "very large assemblage of spectators)
Ulster (0) 7 (Browne (6), Campbell) or (Browne (5), Campbell, Magee) or (Browne (5), Williams, Campbell)
Leinster (1) 2 (Roper, Smith)
Ulster: Gillespie (Hertford); Fox (Ulster), R. Wilson (Distillery); Crone (Distillery), Martin (Oldpark); Campbell (Ulster), Williams, S. Johnston (Distillery), F. Browne (Cliftonville), Magee (Wellington Park), Stewart (Distillery)
Leinster: Lawson; Moorehead, Knox; Hull, Eames, Lonsdale; Roper, Walker, Smyth, Mahon, Maguire
Portheous (Distillery) failed to turn up and his place in the Ulster XI went to Williams
The originally announced Leinster team included Whitfield, Foley, W.D. Hamilton and W.J. Hamilton in place of Knox, Lonsdale, Walker and Maguire.

12th February 1887
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Ulster (0) 1 (Peden)
Leinster (0) 1 (Chatterton) 
Ulster: Gillespie (Hertford); R. Wilson (Distillery), W. Johnston (Old Park); P. McCartney (Old Park), W. Crone (Distillery), J. Cooke (YMCA); W. Dalton (YMCA), W. Stansfield (Distillery), P. McCarrol (St Malachy's). J. Peden (Linfield Athletics), J. Johnston (Distillery)
Leinster: G. Perrott (Dublin Association); M.F. Goodbody capt (Dublin University), E.R. Whitefield (Dublin University); T.V.M. Knock (Old Carthusians), M. Foley (Dublin Association), T. Fisher (Dublin University), L. Kaye (Dublin University); W.J. Hamilton (Dublin Association), E.J. Maguire (Dublin University), E. Greer (Dublin Association), B. Chatterton (Dublin University)
Match originally scheduled for 29th January and was to be used for selection for the Ireland side for matches in that seasons Home Nations Championship.
The Ulster side was weakened as the match was played on the same day as the Irish Cup final between Cliftonville and Ulster.
The following replacements were made by Leinster T. Fisher (Dublin University) by Whitefield, C. Knox (Dublin University) by Fisher, R.H. Smyth (Dublin University) by Kaye, A. Mahon (Dublin Association) by Chatterton

22nd February 1888
Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh, Belfast
Ulster (3) 9 (Wilton (2), Gillespie (5), Torrans (2))
Leinster (0)
Ulster: Clugston (Cliftonville); Bracken, Fox capt; Crawford, Sloan, Baird; S. Torrans, Gaussen (Magherafelt), Gillespie, Wilton (St Columb's Court), Peden (Linfield Athletics)
Leinster: Magill; Connor, Deane; Goodbody, Moore, Whigham; Hamilton, Challerton, N. Brown, W.J. Richardson, J.O.A. Richardson
Ref: Mr McCrum; Umpires: Elleman & W.G. Perrott

No matches found between 1888 and 1893 when a new series appears to have commenced shortly after the founding of the Leinster FA.

9th December 1893
Ulsterville Grounds, Belfast (att: "large")
Ulster (1) 4 (Gibson (3), og)
Leinster (1) 3 (W. Sheehan (2), Torrans (og))
Ulster: T. Gordon (Linfield); R.K. Stewart (Cliftonville), S. Torrans capt (Linfield); H. McKee (Cliftonville), R. Milne (Linfield), W. Burnett (Distillery); W. Dalton (Linfield), G. Gaffikin (Linfield), W. Baird (Cliftonville), R. Barron (Cliftonville), W. Gibson (Cliftonville)
Leinster: T. Rice (Montpelier); R.H. Harrison capt (Leinster Nomads), L.J. Scott (Trinity); W. Crozier (Trinity), R. Murray (Bohemians), W. Monereagh (Trinity); D.J. Morrogh (Nomads), G. Sheehan (Bohemians), J. Blaney (Bohemians), T. Keogh (Montpelier), W. Sheehan (Bohemians)
Ref: R. Ervine; Linesmen: J. Sheehan & J. McBride
A.E. Goodbody (Trinity) was replaced by T. Rice and A. Wilson (Bohemians) by G. Sheehan from the originally announced Leinster XI.

8th December 1894
Sandymount, Dublin (att: "largest gathering of spectators that ever graced a ,,, match in Dublin")
Ulster (2) 2 (Barron, Morrison)
Leinster (1) 4 (W. Sheehan (2), J. Blaney (2))
Ulster: T. Scott (Cliftonville); W. Gibson (Cliftonville), H. Waddell (Cliftonville); McKee (Cliftonville), Alexander (Cliftonville), Burnett (Glenavon); "Ching" Morrison (Glentoran), Pyper (Cliftonville), Sherrard (Cliftonville), Shannon (Glentoran), Barron (Cliftonville).
Leinster: Bennett (Leinster Nomads); L.J. Scott capt (Dublin University), R. Murray (Bohemians); W. Morrogh (Dublin University), W. Crozier (Dublin University), J. McCaughey (Bohemians); J. Blaney (Bohemians), E. Scroope (Dublin University), W. Sheehan (Bohemians), G. Sheehan (Bohemians), A. Wilson (Phoenix)
Ref: Sgt Corrigan (Sherwood Foresters); Linesman: J. Sheehan & J. Reid
The Ulster side was weakened as Linfield played Distillery on the same afternoon.

7th December 1895
Grosvenor Park, Belfast (att: "fair attendance")
Ulster (4) 5 (Stanfield (3), Baird, Peden)
Leinster (0) 2 (??, Blayney)
Ulster: Scott (Cliftonville); Ponsonby (Distillery), Torrans (Linfield); McCoy (Distillery), Milne (Linfield), Campbell (Cliftonville); Baird (Distillery), Edwards (Cliftonville), Stanfield (Distillery), Peden (Distillery), Campbell (Distillery)
Leinster: Fielding (Dublin University) [Thompson (Distillery)]; Scott (Dublin Univerity), Whelan (Bohemians); Crozier (Dublin University), Fitzpatrick (Bohemians), Morrogh (Dublin University); G. Sheehan (Bohemians), D. Morrogh, W. Sheehan (Bohemians), Blaney (Bohemians), Keogh (Dublin University)
Ref: J.M. Small (Co. Antrim FA)
Match played in heavy snow and consequently the second half lasted just 30 minutes.
Leinster goalkeeper Fielding fainted several times in the second half before being replaced by Thompson of Distillery.

28th November 1896
Sandymount, Dublin (att: "about 500")
Ulster (0) 1 (Stanfield)
Leinster (0) 0
Ulster: Thompson (Distillery); Ponsonby (Distillery), McMaster (Glentoran); Cochrane (Glentoran), Jones (North Staffords), McClatchy (Distillery); McGarry (Celtic), Hall (Distillery), Stanfield (Distillery), Dorrian (Distillery), Duncan (Glentoran).
Leinster: Fielding; Finney, Keogh, Boxwell, Birch, W. Morrogh, E. Sheehan, McManus, Walsh, J. Blayney, J. Meldon

4th December 1897
The Oval, Belfast (att: "very meagre"/"very large")
Ulster (2) 2 (McAllen (2))
Leinster (1) 3 (Curtis, ??, ??)
Ulster: J. Thompson (Distillery); H. Gordon (Celtic), M. Cochrane (Distillery); Anderson (Linfield), Milne (Linfield), McGuinness (Linfield); Mercer (Distillery), McArthur (Glentoran), Johnston (Glentoran), McCashin (Cliftonville), McAllen (Linfield)
Leinster: B. Palmer (Phoenix); C. Finney (Dublin University), J. Whelan (Bohemians); T. Keogh (Hibernians), S. Scroope (Bohemians), S. Gillespie (Bohemians); G. Sheehan (Bohemians), S. Curtis (Bohemians), W. Sheehan (Bohemians), J. Blayney (Catholic University), J. Meldon (Dublin University)
Ref: R. Barneyy (IFA)
Thompson and McGuinness replaced Scott and McCoull (both Cliftonville) in the original Ulster XI
Palmer and Gillespie replaced Fielding (Dublin University) and Birch (Hibernians) in the original Leinster selection.
Second half of the match was played in thick fog and the goalscorers were unidentifiable. The match was ended early.
Referred to in some reports as "Belfast v. Dublin"

28th January 1899
Jones's Road, Dublin (att: 7,000)
Ulster (3) 3 (Pyper (2), Doherty)
Leinster (1) 1 (Scroope)
Ulster: Lewis (Glentoran); Jack Pyper capt (Cliftonville), Sam Torrans (Linfield); Lyttle (Glentoran), Milne (Linfield), McMasteer (Glentoran); Campbell (Cliftonville), Jim Pyper (Cliftonville), Lynch (St Columb's Hall Celtic), Doherty (Linfield), McAllen (Linfield)
Leinster: W. Campbell (Bohemians/Cambridge University); C.E. Finney (Freebooters), W.W. Finney (Freebooters); T. Keogh (Richmond Rovers), S.F. Scroope capt (Freebooters), J. Ledwidge (Shelbourne); G. Sheehan (Bohemians), P.A. Meldon (Freebooters), J. Wallingford (Richmond Rovers), A. Campbell (Bohemians), J. Curtis (Bohemians)
Ref: Thomas Farrell
Leinster struck the post with a a first half penalty 

27th January 1900
Grosvenor Park, Belfast (att: 4,000)
Ulster (2) (Doherty (2), Kearns (2))
Leinster (0) (Sheehan)
Ulster: McBride (Derry North End); John Pyper (Cliftonville), M. Cochrane (Distillery); George McMaster (Glentoran), Magennis (Linfield), Nicoll (Celtic); James Campbell (Cliftonville), Darling (Linfield), Doherty (Derry Celtic), Kearns (Distillery), McAllen (Linfield)
Leinster: Farrell (Bohemians); Finny (Dublin University), Whelan (Bohemians); Barry (Bohemians), Mansfield (Freebooters), Crozier (Bohemians); Sheehan (Bohemians), Pratt (Bohemians), Pratt (Bohemians), O'Reilly (Freebooters), Curtis (Bohemians), Bruton (Richmond Rovers)
Ref: Samuel or J. Torrans
Milne was originally announced in the Ulster line-up but withdrew with his place going to Magennis. Some sources list McConville as playing in place of Nicoll

26th January 1901
Jones's Road, Dublin (att: "large number")
Ulster 0
Leinster 0
Ulster: McBride (Derry); J. Pyper (Cliftonville), S. Torrans (Linfield); Murphy (Distillery), Darling (Linfield), Farrell (Distillery); Scott (Cliftonville), Smith (Distillery), Campbell (Cliftonville), Kearns (Distillery), Ernie Thompson (Cliftonville)
Leinster: Nolan (Freebooters); Heslin (Shelbourne), Carrol (Richmond Rovers); Fulton (Bohemians), P. Gunning (Tritonville), Byrne (Shelbourne); Ledwidge (Shelbourne), Pratt (Bohemians), "Williams" (Freebooters), H. O'Reilly (Freebooters), Murray (Bohemians)
Ref: G. Gough; Linesmen: G. Powell (Leinster) & C. McShane (Ulster)
Shane (Bohemians) and Mansfield (Freebooters) was replaced by Byrne and Williams from the originally announced Leinster line-up.

25th January 1902
Grosvenor Park, Belfast (att: "numerous"/"not very large")
Ulster (3) 8 (McIlvenny (3, 1 pen), Donaghy (3), Maxwell, Mercer)
Leinster (0) 0
Ulster: Andrews (Distillery); Torrans (Linfield), McCracken (Distillery); Nicholl (Belfast Celtic), Milne (Linfield), Darling capt (Linfield); McAllen (Linfield), Donaghy (Derry Celtic), McIlvenny (Ulster), Maxwell (Linfield), Mercer (Linfield)
Leinster: Newburn (Tritonville); Heslin (Shelbourne), Wigham (Freebooters); Doyle (Tritonville), J. Ledwidge (Shelbourne), W. Synott (Shelbourne); J. McCann (Freebooters), Sargent (Richmond Rovers), R. Hooper (Bohemians), Turner (Freebooters), Parker (Richmond Rovers)
Ref: James Torrans; Linesmen: J. Coleman (LFA) & J. McAnerney (IFA)
Ulster's original selection included Gibson (Cliftonville), Pyper (Cliftonville) who were replaced by Torrans and McCracken.
The original Leinster XI contained Nolan-Whelan (Freebooters), J. Carroll (Rovers), D.B. Fulton (Bohemians), H. Pratt (Bohemians), F. Greene (Bohemians) and H. O'Reilly (Freebooters) who were replaced by Newburn, Wigham, Doyle, Sargent, Turner and Parker.

17th January 1903
Ulster (2) 3
Leinster (0) 1
Dublin
Ulster: Scott (Linfield); Clay (Belfast Celtic), McCourt (Derry Celtic); Maxwell (Linfield Swifts), Milne (Linfield), Wattie (Glentoran); Campbell (Cliftonville), Maxwell (Linfield), Doherty (Belfast Celtic), Kirkwood (Ulster), S. Rea (Linfield).
Leinster: Nolan-Whelan (Freebooters); Synott (Shelbourne), T. Wigham (Freebooters); Clarke (Shelbourne), Scroope (Freebooters), Kelly (Tritonville); Byrne (Richmond Rovers), Pratt (Bohemians), O'Reilly (Freebooters), Sloan (Bohemians) , Clery (Shelbourne).
Ref: T. Farrell

No match was played during the 1903/04 season

27th December 1904
Ulster (1) 1 (Jones)
Leinster (1) 2 (O'Reilly, "scrimmage")
Dalymount Park, Dublin
Ulster: Lewis (Glentoran); McClelland (Glentoran), McCourt (Glentoran); Nicholl (Belfast Celtic), Darling (Glentoran), Rea (Glentoran); McClure (Derry Celtic), Soye (Belfast Celtic), Jones (Linfield), Maxwell (Glentoran), Hunter (Distillery)
Leinster: R. Reynolds (Bohemian); J. Heslin (Shelbourne), M. McGrath (Bellevue); J. Ledwidge (Shelbourne), Doherty (Shelbourne), Nugent (Tritonville); H.A. Sloan (Bohemians), J. Whelan (Tritonville), O'Reilly (Freebooters), J. Owens (Shelbourne), L. Lawless (Shelbourne)
Ref: R. Barr
The Ulster XI originally selected included Milne (Linfield), McConnell (Glentoran) who were replaced by Rea and Nicholl.
Leinster brought on Hutchinson (Tritonville) as an injury replacement in the first half.

27th January 1906
Celtic Park, Belfast (att: 3,000)
Ulster (5) 5 (Young, Milne (2), Mulholland (2))
Leinster (0) 4 (Whelan (2), Murphy, Owens)
Ulster: McKee (Cliftonville); Willis (Linfield), Darling (Linfield); Wright (Cliftonville), Milne (Linfield), Nicholl (Belfast Celtic); Blair (Cliftonville), Mulholland (Belfast Celtic), Waddell (Cliftonville), Lynch (Derry Celtic), Young (Linfield).
Leinster: Reynolds (Bohemians); Nichol (Cameronians), Gibson (R.I.R.), Nugent (Tritonville), Farmer (Camerens), Kileen (Rifles), Reeves (Cameronians), Whelan (Tritonville), Murphy (Tritonville), Owens (Shelbourne), Clery (Shelbourne)

19th January 1907
Dalymount Park, Dublin (att: 5,000)
Ulster (0) 1 (Mitchell)
Leinster (1) 1 (Hooper)
Ulster: Haddock (Belfast Celtic); Shearer (Derry Celtic), McCartney (Belfast Celtic); Anderson (Linfield), Rea (Glentoran) [Ferguson], Ferguson (Distillery); Morrison (Glentoran), Mitchell (Distillery), Mulholland (Belfast Celtic), Maxwell (Belfast Celtic), Young (Linfield)
Leinster: Fincham (Royal Irish Fusiliers); J. Balfe (Bohemians), P. Kelly (Shelbourne); J. Taylor (Bohemians), A. Ampleford (Bohemians), McElhinney (Bohemians); John Owens (Shelbourne), J. Murphy (Shelbourne), Whelan (Reginald), W. Hooper (Bohemians), Sloan capt (Bohemians)
Ref: Drummond; Linesmen: T. McCann (Ulster) & T. McKeogh (Leinster)
Ulster's Rea retired injured in the first half and during the second half it was agreed that Mr John Ferguson, secretary of the Irish FA, could take his place.

18th January 1908
The Oval, Belfast (att: "under 1,000")
Ulster (3) 6 (Young (3), McBirney (2), Burnison (pen))
Leinster (1) 2 (McElhinney (pen), Webb)
Ulster: Haddock (Belfast Celtic); Seymour (Cliftonville), Willis (Linfield); Burnison (Distillery), Martin (Cliftonville), McCann (Belfast Celtic); Blair (Belfast Celtic), Hamilton (Distillery), McBirney (Derry Celtic), Ewing (Glentoran), Young (Linfield)
Leinster: Reilly (Shelbourne); Heslin (Shelbourne), Kelly (Shelbourne); Robinson (R.I.F.), Doherty (Shelbourne), McElhinney (Bohemians); Val Harris (Shelbourne), Murphy (Shelbourne), Webb (Essex Regiment), Cotton (Bohemians), Lacey (Shelbourne)
Ref: Sgt J. Nicholl (Enniskillen)
Willis and McCann replaced McCartney and McClure from the originally selected Ulster XI.
From the original Leinster selection Balfe, Bastow, Sloan and Hannon withdrew and were replaced by Heslin, Murphy, Robinson and Cotton.
Linfield and Glentoran played an Irish League match at the same time at Windsor Park.

2nd January 1909
Dalymount Park, Dublin
Ulster (0) 0
Leinster (2) 3 (Kay, McDonnell, Sloan (pen))
Ulster: Glenn (Derry Celtic); Warren (Belfast Celtic), A. McCartney (Glentoran); Mercer (Distillery), J. Darling (Linfield), G. McClure capt (Distillery); A. Hunter (Belfast Celtic), J. Maxwell (Linfield), W. Halligan (Distillery), Briggs (Belfast Celtic), N. McClure (Derry Celtic)
Leinster: J.C. Hehir (Bohemians); J. Balfe (Bohemians), P.J. Thunder (Bohemians); W. Watson (Shelbourne), Sgt Clague (Lancashire Fusiliers), H.A. Sloan (Bohemians); J. Murphy (Shelbourne), Kay (Lancashire Fusiliers), R.M. Hooper (Bohemians), J. McDonnell (Bohemians), J. Slemin (Bohemians)
The original Ulster selection included A. Donnelly (Belfast Celtic), P. McCann (Belfast Celtic), J. Wright (Cliftonville) and J. McAuley (Cliftonville) who were replaced by Glenn, Warren, Mercer and Briggs. The named reserve was F. Rea (Glentoran).
D. Hannon (Bohemians), Cpl Webb (Essex Reg) and James Owens (Shelbourne) were replaced in the Leinster XI by Kay, Hooper and McDonnell.

Ulster v. Munster
Date
Venue

Score

1905/6
Cork
Ulster
3-1
Munster
The Munster FA was originally founded in October 1901 and, like the Leinster FA, was affiliated to the Irish FA. It was originally dominated by British Army teams.

17th March 1906
Turner's Cross, Cork
Ulster (1) 3 (Roy, Anderson, Burnison)
Munster (1) 1 (Fitzpatrick (pen))
Ulster: D. Sloan (Distillery); D. Shearer (Derry Celtic), G. McMillan (Distillery); W. Anderson (Linfield), J. Crothers (Glentoran), H. Stewart (Linfield); Roy (Linfield), J. Mitchell (Glentoran), J. Rae (Linfield), Burnison (Distillery), S. Young (Linfield)
Munster: Warwick (Durham Light Infantry); Shannon (3rd Dragoon Guards), Roef (Gordon Highlanders); Atkins (3rd Dragoon Guards),Struthers (Cork Celtic), Hogg (3rd Dragoon Guards); Barnes (3rd Dragoon Guards), Cook (3rd Dragoon Guards), Smith (3rd Dragoon Guards), Fitzpatrick (Gordon Highlanders), Jenkins (3rd Dragoon Guards) [9 players!]
Ref: Sgt Connor (ASC); Linesman: P. Meenan (Derry Celtic)
H. Nicholl (Belfast Celtic), L. Gall (Belfast Celtic) and T. Beattue (Cliftonville) were selected in the original Ulster XI but were replaced by Stewart, Roy, Burnison respectively. Ulster's named reserve was C. Lynch (Derry Celtic). Hamilton (Linfield) is listed in some reports as playing in place of Roy.
Munster's named reserves were: Roach (Gordon Highlanders), Morris (Durham LI), Cox (3rd Dragoons) and Linton (Cork Celtic)
Munster had a second penalty saved by Sloan in the second half.

Co. Antrim v. Leinster
Date
Venue

Score

1894/5
Belfast
Co. Antrim
2-1
Leinster

9 March 1895
Solitude, Belfast (att: "a couple of thousand")
Co. Antrim (1) 2 (McLaughlin, King)
Leinster (1) 1 (Keogh)
Antrim: Scott (Cliftonville); Cochrane (Milltown), Forbes (Distillery); Ponsonby (Distillery), Farrell (Celtic), Campbell (Cliftonville); McLoughlin (Milltown), Baird (Cliftonville), Bruce (Distillery), King (Ligoniel), Devlin (Milltown)
Leinster: Fielding (University); Scott (University), D. Murrough (Nomads); Pim (University), Gillespie (Nomads), Crozier (University); Dobbs (University) [or G. Sheehan (Bohemians)], Scroope (University), F. Crozier (University) [or Blaney (Bohemians)], Keogh (Nomads), Calwell (University) [or G. Sheehan (Bohemians)]
Ref: James Torrans
Leinster were referred to as County Dublin in most contemporary newspaper reports, with the title of Leinster seemingly only applied several years later.
This match was played on the same day as Ireland faced England in Derby, hence the selections were weaker than might otherwise have been expected.

Derry v. Leinster
Date
Venue

Score

1904/5
Dublin
Leinster
2-0
Derry

17 March 1905
Sandymount, Dublin
DUBLIN (2) 2 (Woodward, Meldon)
DERRY (0) 0
Dublin: Kirk (Tritonville); Wilson (Tritonville), McGrath (Bellvue), Ampleford (Bohemians), Hayes (Richmond Rovers), Crozier (Freebooters), Murphy (Tritonville),  Martin (Tritonville), Merrigan (Richmond Rovers), Woodward (Rifles), Meldon (Freebooters)
Derry: (announced) Emery (Church Lads' Brigade/City Press); Dan O'Kane (Inniskilling Fusiliers), Neely (Glenview); Magee (Inniskilling Fusiliers), Jamie Doherty (Hibernians/City Press), J. Shiels (Hibernians/Leviathans); Dickson (Inniskilling Fusiliers), Nash (Inniskilling Fusiliers), McClurg (Inniskilling Fusilers), Dannie Gallagher (Hibernians/Tailors), T. McClelland (Glenview)
Martin took the place of H. O'Reilly who was listed in the original Dublin XI
Nash replaced Hope (Enniskillen Celtic) from the originally selected Derry side.
The Leinster side is alternatively listed as Dublin in some sources. It is also difficult to say if this is the city or county of Derry and hence how best to categorise this match.

Ulster vs Lancashire
Date
Venue

Score

1885/6
1886/7
1889/0
Bootle
Belfast
Belfast
Lancashire
Lancashire
Ulster
3-0
6-0
4-3
Ulster
Ulster
Lancashire
The Lancashire FA was founded in 1878 at a meeting in Bromley Cross, near Bolton, and the area remains a hot-bed of football in England.

6th February 1886
Bootle AFC, near Liverpool (att: 8,000)
Ulster (0) 0
Lancashire (1) 3 (Gregson, Hamilton, Dewhurst)
Ulster: Gillespie (Lisburn); Watson (Ulster), Johnston (Old Park);  Martin (Old Park),  Crone (Distillery), McCarthy; Clemau, Campbell (Ulster), Barclay (Ulster), Leslie (Glentoran), R. Wilson (Old Park).
Lancashire: McConnell (Padiham); Robinson (Church), McFelridge (Padiham); Wood (Church), Steel (Bolton Wanderers), Hamilton; Dewhurst (Blackburn Olympic), Douglas (Blackburn Rovers), Gallicher (Padiham), Gregson (Church), Eyton Jones (Bootle)
Other players in the Ulster panel: Osborne (YMCA), Elleman (Cliftonville), Magee (Wellington Park), McVicker (Glentoran)

16th April 1887 
Ulster Cricket Grounds, Ballynafeigh, Belfast (att: 4,000)
"United Ulster" (0) 0
Lancashire (4) 6 (Farmer, Davenport (3), Dewhurst, Thompson)
Ulster: Gillespie (Hertford); Watson (Ulster), R. Wilson (Distillery), Crone (Distillery), Rosbotham (Cliftonville), King (Wellington Park), Joe Sherrard (Limavady), Millar (Ulster), F. Browne (Cliftonville), Peden (Linfield), Stanfield (Distillery)
Lancashire: H. Arthur capt (Blackburn Rovers/England); R. Howarth (Preston North End/England), N.J. Ross (Preston North End); J. Forrest (Blackburn Rovers/England), G. Howarth (Accrington/England), D.E. Russell (Preston North End); L. Lofthouse (Blackburn Rovers/England), J.K. Davenport (Bolton Wanderers/England), F. Dewhurst (Preston North End/England), G. Farmer (Everton/Wales), S. Thompson (Preston North End/Scotland)
King replaced S. Baxter in the originally selected Ulster eleven.

3rd May 1890
Ulsterville Grounds, Belfast (att: "large gathering")
"United Ulster" (3) 4 (Swan (2), Hill, Peden)
Lancashire (1) 3 (Chadwick (2), Wilkinson)
Ulster: Gordon (Linfield); Crone (Distillery), Morrison (Linfield); Reynolds (Distillery), Moore (Linfield), Milne (Gordons); Swan (Gordons), Small (Cliftonville), Peden (Linfield), Torrans capt (Linfield), Hill (Black Watch)
Lancashire: J. Parkinson (Bolton Wanderers); J. Marsden capt (Darwen), D. Jones (Bolton Wanderers); J. Thornbar (Darwen), J. Scowcroft (Bury), J. Holt (Everton); A. Wilkinson (Accrington), J.K. Davenport (Bolton Wanderers), J. Millward (Everton), E. Chadwick (Everton), J. Cassidy (Bolton Wanderers)
Referee: A.R. Elleman; Umpirers: J. Torrans & S. Ormerod

Ulster vs Staffordshire
Date
Venue

Score

1885/6
1886/7
Stoke
Belfast
Staffordshire
Staffordshire
3-0
7-0
Ulster
Ulster
The Staffordshire FA was founded in 1877.

8th February 1886
Stoke-on-Trent (att: "almost 4,000")
Ulster (0) 0
Staffordshire (1) ("scrummage", Wassall, Brodie)
Ulster: Gillespie (Hertford); Watson (Ulster), Johnston (Old Park); Crone (Distillery), Osborne (YMCA), Martin (Old Park); Elleman (Cliftonville), Magee (Wellington Park), R. Wilson (Old Park), Campbell (Ulster), McVicker (Glentoran)
or
GillespieJohnson, Lawther, WatsonCroneMartinMacartneyElleman, Lennon, Wilson, Lemon.
or
GillespieWatsonJohnstonCrone McCartneyMartin; Barclay, CampbellElleman, Leslie, Wilson
Staffordshire: W. Rowley (Port Vale); Clare (Stoke), S. Reynolds (Walsall Town); Poulson (Port Vale), G. Shutt (Stoke), E.M. Smith (Stoke); J. Sayer (Stoke), C. Shaw (Walsall Town), D. Hodgetts (St George's), C. Wassall (St George's), J. Brodie (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

23rd April 1887 
Ulster Cricket Grounds, Ballynafeigh, Belfast
"United Ulster" 0
Staffordshire 7
Ulster: Gillespie (Hertford); Watson (Ulster), Fox (Ulster), Osbourne, Campbell (Cliftonville), Crone (Distillery), Mercer (Distillery), E. Reid, Millar (Ulster) , Stanfield  (Distillery), Dalton (YMCA)
Staffordshire: W. Rowley (Stoke); T. Clare (Stoke), W. Powell (Port Vale); J. Morley (Walsall Swifts), G. Shutt (Stoke), T. Lowder (Wolverhampton Wanderers); J. Sayer (Stoke), C. Shaw (Walsall Town), Reynolds (Port Vale), Vickerstaffe (Leek), Cope (Walsall Town).

Sources/Credits:
- Irish Football Guide 1907-08
- Steve Bell for researching the archives of the following newspapers: Belfast Evening Telegraph, Belfast News-Letter, Cork Constitution, Dublin Daily Express, Dublin Daily Nation, Freeman's Journal, Irish News, Irish Times, Northern Whig, Sporting Life

Comments