England (7 September) Northern Ireland 2–3 Wales (8 October) Austria 2–0 Northern Ireland (12 October) Northern Ireland failed to qualify Other international matches Northern Ireland 1–4 Germany (4 June) Northern Ireland 1–1 Portugal (15 November) Setanta Cup Winners: Linfield Irish League Winners: Glentoran Irish Cup Winners: Portadown 5–1 Larne The IFA celebrated its 125th anniversary. The UEFA under 19 European championship was hosted by Ireland, with the final won by France in Windsor Park on 29 July. There was an all-Irish clash in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Shelbourne defeated Glentoran 6–2 on aggregate. Gaelic games Christy Ring Cup Final Westmeath 1–23 : 2–18 Down All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final Tyrone 1–16 : 2–10 Kerry Ice hockey Belfast Giants ended the Elite Ice Hockey League season as runners-up to Coventry Blaze. Motorcycling 8 February – Robert Dunlop was the first person to be elected to the Irish Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and came back out of retirement. Rugby union RBS Six Nations Championship Ireland 28–17 Italy Ireland 40–13 Scotland Ireland 19–13 England Ireland 19–26 France Ireland 20–32 Wales Autumn Internationals Ireland 7–45 New Zealand Ireland 14–30 Australia Ireland 43–12 Romania Deaths 31 January – Robert McCartney, victim of murder allegedly carried out by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (born 1971). 28 April – Mickey Marley, street entertainer 13 August – Robbie Millar, chef and restaurateur (born 1967). 19 August – Mo Mowlam, 11th British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (born 1949) 26 August – Gerry Fitt, founder of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (born 1926). 4 October – Jim Gray, former Ulster Defence Association leader in east Belfast (born 1958). 25 November – George Best, former Northern Ireland and Manchester United footballer (born 1946). 19 December – Charles Brett, lawyer, journalist, author and founding member of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (born 1928). See also 2005 in England 2005 in Scotland 2005 in Wales References