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[Steve Russell]

Ireland v Wales in 1905 & a Third Cap (& a goal) for QPR’s Irish International Neil Murphy
Neil Murphy was QPR’s first full international.

Rangers had signed him from Sheffield Utd in 1903 & he made his Southern League debut
against Luton Town on 26th September.

He went on to gain his 1st cap for Ireland on 25th February 1905 against England at Middlesbrough.
Neil was then called up to face Scotland in Glasgow the following month.

On 8th April, Neil made his 3rd international appearance at Cliftonville against Wales. A report
appeared in the Belfast Newsletter 2 days later:

‘The 24th international contest between teams representing Wales & Ireland took place on
Saturday on the ground at the Cliftonville Club at Solitude.

It had been anticipated that there would be a big crowd of spectators & the arrangements made
by the obliging & energetic secretary of the Irish FA, Mr Jack Reid, were in every way admirable; #
but not more than 10,000 people were present & the receipts only amounted to £397.

The match was a most important one, as it settled the relative positions of the countries in the
international table, a victory for Ireland placing them second to England & a defeat putting them
at the bottom, giving them the unenviable distinction of being the holders of the “wooden spoon”.

Our representatives’ average has been greatly improved in recent years, for we have defeated the
men of “gallant little” Wales in the last 3 games, while out of the 8 contests since 1896 - when in
a memorable contest at Wrexham, we got a terrible drubbing to the tune of 6 goals to 1 - we have
6 times emerged victorious.

Many changes have taken place in the football world since then & while there is no doubt that we
have improved in our methods & skill, some of the later reforms have aroused not a little discussion
in the ranks.

Saturday’s match was fought out under pleasant atmospheric conditions, the weather being open &
Spring-like, but the playing pitch had suffered greatly from the recent heavy rains, though obviously
much attention had been bestowed upon it.

Despite the liberal application of sand there were patches, which were almost bog-like, and the whole
surface was holding and heavy.

Spectators began to congregate on the ground long before the time fixed for the kick-off, & a frequent
tram service enabled all to reach the place with ease and comfort.

The players turned out punctually to time, the home men, in Royal blue jerseys, coming first, headed
by Kirwan &the Welshmen following shortly afterwards in red jerseys, with E. Hughes leading.

Ireland: Reynolds (Bohemians), McCracken (Newcastle United), McMillan (Distillery), Darling (Linfield),
Connor (Glentoran), Johnston (Distillery), Hunter (Distillery), Maxwell (Glentoran), Murphy (QPR),
O’Hagan (Tottenham), Kirwan (Tottenham).

Kirwan won the toss for Ireland & elected to play towards the mountain goal, there being little or
no wind stirring.

Davies set the ball in motion & immediately the home backs had their powers of defence tested.
McCracken was badly beaten, but McMillan came to the rescue & saved brilliantly.

Here there was nothing to choose between the sides until Wales forced the pace, their forwards b
eing judiciously fed by Morris and Blew & and a nice bit of combination enabled Watkins and Matthews
on the right to get down to near goal.

A bit of very exciting play followed, for Hunter and Maxwell had dribbled down & the former centred
accurately. Kirwan dashing through had an absolutely open goal, but somehow he managed to sky the
ball & a certain score was lost.

After desultory play a foul against Murphy enabled the Reds to attack & then Watkins completely
outwitted McMillan & opened the scoring with an unsavable shot 18 minutes from the start.

The Irish right-wing quickly got to work & after Hunter had sent the ball sharply across O’Hagan, had
very hard lines in not scoring, a stinging shot from him striking the upright.

The home left-wing then took up the running & both Kirwan & O’Hagan had attempts at goal, but
Blew intercepted pluckily.

The Welsh captain punted away, only to find Hunter come with a splendid
dribble on the far side & this time the clever little Distillery player had the satisfaction of seeing his
beautiful centre met by Murphy in the goalmouth & headed into the net.

This, the equalising goal, was put on after 25 minutes’ play. Matthews & Watkins footed up smartly &
then the ball passed right across the front-rank line to Davies, Atherton & Jones, but the latter was
fouled & matters were very dangerous for Ireland.

There was no mistake about their determination & when Jones slipped the leather through to Atherton,
the speedy winger put plenty of force behind it, and with a right-down good one beat Reynolds & gave
Wales the lead.

Good play was seen, in which Connor and then Darling were conspicuous, but the home forwards lacked
cohesion & they appeared to play purely for their individual selves, while Murphy received an injury &
limped off the field.

Morris, on the left, sent the home side back, but after a moment or two about midfield, Kirwan raced
away & quickly passing to O’Hagan in front of goal, the latter netted the ball with a grand high shot,
which Morgan could not get at.

Half-time was immediately whistled, with the score standing: Ireland…2 goals - Wales…2 goals.

The first period of the game had been very keenly contested & exciting & though the turf was
very sticky & treacherous the men had put in a ding-dong 45 minutes, which was bound to have
taken a lot out of them.

When they resumed – Murphy coming out again on the home side - they went at it apparently, as
fresh as ever & O’Hagan first made Morgan handle.

The Wrexham custodian very coolly got the ball away, but was again called upon to exert himself.

After clever & smart work by Connor, who was doing any amount of execution, he put Hunter in
possession & he sprinted up to Morris, who used his bulk and weight remorselessly.

a hard struggle resulted in Morris placing nicely to his forwards & Davies made a rattling good run,
which was checked by Connor & then McCracken showed a glimpse of his old form - for the first
time in the match.

Down swept O’Hagan and Kirwan on the uncovered stand side, and Richards and Blew were utterly
powerless to stop them & finally a good shot was sent in to Morgan.

The custodian, who had played a sound, consistent game, saved with the utmost coolness and
decisiveness, and then Maxwell had a go at him & the shot, which was a very hot one, struck the
crossbar & bounced back into play.

Ground was gained as the result of good passing & dribbling on the home left-wing, but there was
little sting in the shooting & the game was monotonous in the extreme.

Several times when Hunter had put in clever & tricky runs on the right, Morris pulled him up sharply
& once the referee intervened, giving a foul against the Derby County back. It was a good opportunity,
but it was not taken advantage of, the ball being sent behind.

Morgan had to fist out once here, but the shot came from O’Hagan, who is so smart and “nippy” on
his feet that he is inclined to overdo it & give the boys a chance to cheer from the gallery.

And so the game wore on, with never a gleam of excitement to wake up the spectators. All the life
seemed to have gone out of the contest & everybody made up their minds that a draw was to be the
outcome.

Just before the call of time the home lot made a rather smart incursion to the Welsh goal, but
J. Hughes sent them back & the visitors swarmed around Reynolds, who beat them back manfully.

When the whistle went there was little to choose in the positions & the game ended:
Wales 2 goals - Ireland 2 goals.’

Neil made 53 appearances for the Hoops, scoring 12 goals, before he moved on to Luton Town in
1907.

Thanks to Colin Woodley & Gordon Macey (RIP) for their assistance