Cliftonville vs Linfield 04/05/24

He also collected numerous runners-up medals with various clubs during his career, in the Irish Cup, Charity Cup and Co Antrim Shield. Whilst lining out at Irish League level for the Reds, he played his solitary international in 1904 - for Ireland away in a 1-0 win over Wales in the now defunct British Championship. He was playing so well for Cliftonville at the time that it was remarked upon in The Belfast Telegraph (14 March 1904) that it was felt he could not be passed over. Full-back Billy McCracken scored the only goal of the game. It was a penalty 10 minutes into the second half, awarded after Welsh player Parry had handled the ball. A match report in the Irish Daily Independent of 22 March 1904 notes that “Kirwan… in partnership with Kirkwood, bombarded the Principality goal to a lively tune”. The family story is that my great grandfather never played for Ireland again because he got into a fight with someone whom he knocked through the glass window of a public house. Irish FA Tours guide Michael Cockcroft uncovered information which lends weight to the family story. Press reports from the Wales match give the impression that Hugh had a great game and was certainly not droppable. The next game (against Scotland a matter of days later) was to be played in Dublin. Before the Wales match was even played, the papers were suggesting that a few Dublin-based players would be brought into the team to help boost the attendance in Dublin. Four players were 'dropped' and into the team came Dublin-based players, which seems innocent enough. However, press reports after the draw with Scotland stated that Ireland would surely have won if Shanks and Kirkwood had played. Following Hugh’s career through the papers of the time, there are numerous references to suggest he was a player who liked a drink and generally moved where the inducements were best. One such press snippet reveals: "Kirkwood I always considered a fine player and, when not neglecting his training or enjoying himself not wisely but too well, one who has few superiors in his position."

Hugh had the honour of playing in the very first match at Windsor Park (as a Glentoran player in a 1-0 defeat to Linfield in 1905). After finishing the 1906-07 season as a league winner with Linfield, he seemed to disappear. He would only have been 26 or 27 and it could be that the birth of his second child (my grandfather) resulted in a change in lifestyle. In any case, the last reference to him in the sports section was a simple question a couple of weeks into the 1907-08 season: "Where is Kirkwood?" HUGH KIRKWOOD’S PLAYING CAREER 1899-1900 Cliftonville II 1900-1901 Cliftonville – he was an Irish Cup winner 1901-1902 Distillery – he was an Irish Cup runner up and a County Antrim Shield runner up. Hugh also played for Irish League v Scottish League 1902-1903 Belfast Celtic from August to November. Played for Irish League v English League 1903-1904 Cliftonville – 20 goals in 25 starts 1904-1905 Glentoran - Irish League winner and Charity Cup runner-up. Scored 12 goals in 27 games 1905-1906 Glentoran – scored seven goals in 18 games 1906-1907 Linfield - Irish League winner and a Co Antrim Shield winner. He scored 12 goals in 29 games and scored in the game. Played for Ulster from November 1902 to May 1903

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