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01.11.1959 at 00:00 Dalymount Park Attendance: 40250
Republic of Ireland 3 - 2 Sweden
Referee: Holland (England) Friendly / Prog-match

Goalscorers
John Giles (16)
Dermot Curtis (24)
Dermot Curtis (53)
Borjesson 7,
Berndtsson 12
Opening squads
Noel Dwyer
Charlie Hurley
Mick Mc Grath
Noel Cantwell
Fionan Fagan
Joe Haverty
George Cummins
Pat Saward
Joe Carolan
John Giles
Dermot Curtis
Nyholm,
Bergmark,
Axbom,
Johnsson,
Johansson,
Parling,
Berndtsson,
Thillberg,
Simonsson,
Boerrjesson,
Salomonsson
Substitutes
Substitutions
None. None
Yellow cards
None. None
Red cards
None. None
Other statistics
0 Shots 0
0 Shots on goal 0
0 Offsides 0
0 Corner kicks 0
0 Free kicks 0
0 Penalties 0
Match report


Pictures from the match
Match 78
Sunday, November 1st, 1959

Statto:
Debuts for: Noel Dwyer, Joe Carolan and Johnny Giles; Joe Haverty wins his 10th Cap.
Sweden had defeated England 3-2 on the previous Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland 3 (Giles 16, Curtis 24, 52)
Sweden 2 (Boerjesson 7, Bernndtsson 13)



"DAZZLING IRISH SHOCK SWEDES" so said the headline of the Irish Press on Monday November 2 1959 with the opening paragraph as follows

Forty thousand Irish fans lifted the roofs of the Dalymount stands yesterday as the referees whistle ended an exhibition of football supreme that will long be remembered. For underdog Ireland had beaten a much vaunted Swedish team who in turn had humbled the mighty England at Wembley on Wednesday last.

After a display of soccer de luxe eleven Irish heroes emerged worthy victors over the World Cup finalists who had been odds - on favourites to win especially after the mid week match.


Two goals down when the game was only 12 minutes old the Irish showed their fighting qualities to rise Phoenix like from the ashes fanned by two dazzling goals by 18 year old John Giles and Dermot Curtis to level at the interval."

Ireland with three new caps in their midst John Giles, Noel Dwyer and Joe Carolan looked as if they were going to be hammered as they fell behind in the seventh minute and again fell further behind after 12 minutes.

After two disallowed goals for offside a Swedish defender headed a way a clearance that went to Giles and showing the wisdom of an older one he steadied himself, he rocketed the ball home from 25 yards.

Six minutes later Ireland equalised which “for pure architecture was wonderful”. Joe Haverty who had led the Swedes a merry dance all afternoon being the scorer.

The Irish Press went on to explain "Three of Ireland's key players had virtually sleepless nights on Saturday night. Charlie Hurley who played for Sunderland at Roker Park, on Saturday made a dash by car and train to make his connection with the Hollyhead boat. But he just could not catch up on his sleep. Pat Saward and Noel Dwyer who had played for their clubs, Aston Villa and West Ham respectively in the Saturday afternoon English League matches arrived late on Saturday night.

Roommates in a Dublin Hotel neither Dwyer or Saward could relax "Having played in the afternnon and with the international on our minds we were just too mentally awake" said Saward " We heard a nearby clock chiming every hour of the night. It was almost a relief when dawn came and we could stop the pretence of trying to sleep"

Other very interesting quotes, John Giles "the ball came to me and I just decided to have a go. I was a bit nervous in my first international but the other lads helped me a lot."

Joe Haverty who was named as the best forward on the day ”I began to cramp up in the last fifteen minutes. Due to injury I had not been training for the last week and two matches in two days was a bit of a strain".

Team manager Johnny Carey “To combat the Swedes double centre forward we decided to mark man to man. For the first 15 minutes the plan certainly did not look like working but after that everything worked out beautifully”.

How the paper rated the players:

Charlie Hurley: The dominant driving forces behind Ireland’s win. Even the visiting critics acknowledged Hurley’s cool command of the situation as their greatest stumbling block. He was Ireland’s best player.

Joe Haverty … The diminutive will-o’-the-wisp. Entertaining and cheeky- the most dangerous forward.

Noel Dwyer… recovered after the two goal shock to give a thoroughly competent display

Joe Carolan... after a shaky start improved considerably to make his international debut a success.

Noel Cantwell… faced by the most dangerous Swedish forward, Berndtsson he was still one of the “big” men of the Irish defence and a great Captain

Mick Mc Grath… not so much polish but plenty of heart. A great worker

Pat Saward … His brilliant covering compensated for his odd passing lapses

Fionan Fagan… Got his centres across beautifully. His display poses the question – why has he been in the international wilderness so long?

John Giles… his goal must rate as one of the greatest seen at Dalymount. Undoubtedly he will get many more caps

Dermot Curtis… a revelation. At last Ireland has a centre forward

George Cummins… the complete ballplayer – and in his element in this game


Teams
Ireland: N Dwyer (West Ham), J Carolan (Man Utd), N Cantwell (West Ham)(Capt), M Mc Grath (Blackburn), C Hurley (Sunderland), P Saward (Aston Villa), F Fagan (Manchester City), J Giles (Man Utd) , D Curtis (Ipswich), G Cummins (Luton), J Haverty (Arsenal)

Sweden: Nyholm, Bergmark, Axbom, Johnsson, Johansson, Parling, Berndtsson, Thillberg, Simonsson, Boerrjesson, Salomonsson

Referee: Mr A Holland (England)
Linesmen: Mr T Barton (Dublin); Sgt J O’Donnell (Limerick)
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