Sports Letters: All-Ireland games

Sir: Having been born and bred in Northern Ireland demands I respond to James Gorman's correspondence with the following points:

1 The first international between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was played in Dublin on 20 September 1978;

2 Danny Blanchflower made eight appearances for the Irish League before moving into English football with Barnsley;

3 Danny never made an anti-Irish statement throughout his life and the same goes for myself.

In conclusion I would like to wish the Republic of Ireland heartiest congratulations on reaching the World Cup finals for the second time and trust they achieve as much success as Northern Ireland in 1958, 1982 and 1986. I suggest if they have any difficulties with a colour clash, an alternative perhaps could be the blue of the United Nations.

Yours faithfully

PETER HUGHES

Shepshed, Leics