Kevin McGarry
Encyclopedia
Dr J. Kevin McGarry was a Northern Ireland
international footballer
who played with Cliftonville
from 1949. He played Gaelic football
before being convinced to sign amateur forms with Belfast Celtic. He played a few first-team games for Celtic before signing with Cliftonville. At Solitude
he was also a prolific goalscorer. He was named as the inaugural Ulster Footballer of the Year
for the 1950/51 season.
As a student at Queen's University, he was selected by Ireland for an amateur international against England in February 1948: a 5-0 defeat. He was then chosen for an Irish F.A.
representative side which beat the United States 5-0, with McGarry scoring twice. In 1952, he was part of the Great Britain squad at the Helsinki Olympics.
He was selected for Ireland's
1950/51 Home Nations squad, making his full international debut against Scotland
at Hampden Park
, in which he scored in a 1-2 defeat. He earned two more caps, also playing in the match against Wales
, and then in a friendly against France
.
He represented the Irish League
on numerous occaions, scoring a record twelve goals.
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played with Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
from 1949. He played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
before being convinced to sign amateur forms with Belfast Celtic. He played a few first-team games for Celtic before signing with Cliftonville. At Solitude
Solitude (football ground)
Solitude is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Cliftonville. The stadium holds 6,224, but is currently restricted to 2,180 under safety legislation. The stadium was built in 1890....
he was also a prolific goalscorer. He was named as the inaugural Ulster Footballer of the Year
Ulster Footballer of the Year
The Ulster Footballer of the Year is the older of two association football player of the year awards in Northern Ireland. It is awarded by Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters' Club to the player who is adjudged by an independent committee to have been the best of the season in the IFA Premiership...
for the 1950/51 season.
As a student at Queen's University, he was selected by Ireland for an amateur international against England in February 1948: a 5-0 defeat. He was then chosen for an Irish F.A.
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
representative side which beat the United States 5-0, with McGarry scoring twice. In 1952, he was part of the Great Britain squad at the Helsinki Olympics.
He was selected for Ireland's
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
1950/51 Home Nations squad, making his full international debut against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, in which he scored in a 1-2 defeat. He earned two more caps, also playing in the match against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, and then in a friendly against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
.
He represented the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
on numerous occaions, scoring a record twelve goals.