Jack McCarthy (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername= Jack McCarthy


fullname = John McCarthy
dateofbirth = c. 1898
cityofbirth =
countryofbirth = Ireland
position= Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs=
years = 19xx-19xx
clubs= Bohemians
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 1921
1924
1924-1930
nationalteam = Ireland Amateurs (IFA)
League of Ireland XI
Irish Free State (FAI)
nationalcaps(goals) =
1 (0)
6 (0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate = |

Jack McCarthy (born c. 1898 [ [http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1924/1924.pdf 1924 Olympic Report, pg 324] ] ) was a former Irish footballer who played for Bohemians in the League of Ireland during the 1920s and 1930s. As an international McCarthy also represented both Ireland teams. He played as a senior for the FAI XI and as an amateur for the IFA XI. He remained an amateur player throughout his career.

Bohemians

During the 1923-24 season, McCarthy helped Bohemians win their first ever League of Ireland title. Bohs won the title after winning 15 successive league games. Other members of the team included Bertie Kerr, Johnny McIlroy, Billy Otto, Christy Robinson, Dave Roberts and Johnny Murray [ [http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/history/runrec.htm www.bohemians.ie] ] . On February 23 1924 McCarthy also played for a League of Ireland XI in a prestige friendly against Celtic. 18,000 turned up at Dalymount Park to see Celtic win 3-0. The game was used by the FAI to raise funds to help send a squad, which included McCarthy, to the 1924 Olympic Games ["Freestaters - The Republic of Ireland Soccer Team 1921-1939" (2007): Donal Cullen] . Together with Peter Kavanagh, Harry Cannon, Jimmy White, Jimmy Bermingham, Jeremiah Robinson and Christy Robinson, McCarthy was also a prominent member of the 1927-28 Bohs team which won a quartet of trophies including the League of Ireland title, the FAI Cup, the League of Ireland Shield and the Leinster Senior Cup [Bohemian FC match programme, Vol. 53, no. 17] .

Irish international

When McCarthy played international football during the 1920s, there were in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland - based IFA and the Irish Free State - based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including McCarthy played for both teams.

IFA XI

McCarthy played at least one game for the IFA Amateur XI. In 1921 he played against a France Amateur XI in Paris ["Freestaters - The Republic of Ireland Soccer Team 1921-1939" (2007): Donal Cullen] .

FAI XI

Between 1924 and 1930 McCarthy made 6 appearances for the FAI XI. The first two of these games were played at the 1924 Olympics Games. Other members of the Olympic squad included Tommy Muldoon, Joe Kendrick, Paddy Duncan, Johnny Murray and Dinny Hannon. He made his debut for the FAI XI in their first ever senior international on May 28 1924, a 1-0 win at the Stade Olympique against Bulgaria. As a result of this win the FAI XI qualified for the quarter-finals. On June 2 McCarthy also played in this game against the Netherlands but the FAI XI lost 2-1 after extra-time [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1924f-det.html 1924 Olympic Games at Rsssf] ] . The following day he played for the FAI XI in a 3-1 win against Estonia in a friendly at the Stade Olympique [ [http://www.soccernet.ee/page.php?page=/Ajalugu/Koondis/1920-1924 www.soccernet.ee] ] . On March 21 1926 he also played in a 3-0 away defeat against Italy. His last two appearances for the FAI XI were both in away friendlies against Belgium. On February 12 1928 he captained the team when they won 4-2 and on May 11 1930 he helped them to a win 3-1 [ [http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/player.php?id=199 www.soccerscene.ie] ] .

Honours

*League of Ireland
**1923-24, 1927-28, 1929-30: 3
*FAI Cup
**1928: 1
*League of Ireland Shield
**1928, 1929: 2

References