Fifty years ago Lansdowne Road hosted a memorable occasion as the then formidable world champions pipped an all-Ireland selection in a seven-goal thriller
As Shamrock Rovers prepare to travel to Budapest this week, members of the last Hoops side to play there recall getting taught a lesson by Honved in 1985.
Last modified on Tue 11 May 2021 08.59 EDT
As far as international friendlies are concerned, there is nothing more prestigious than playing against the most glamorous and successful team in world football, Brazil. On 3 July 1973 a packed Lansdowne Road had the pleasure of watching the reigning World Cup holders take on an Irish side. But this was an Irish side with a difference: for the first time since the 1950s, the team was made up of players from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The concept of a unified Irish team was the brainchild of Louis Kilcoyne, who had recently taken ownership of the Dublin-based club Shamrock Rovers. Kilcoyne had travelled to Brazil in 1972 to watch the Republic in a friendly tournament. Once he heard about Brazil’s intentions to tour Europe the following year as part of their preparation for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, he was determined to get Ireland on to an itinerary that already included games against Germany, Austria, S