Northern Ireland ended a miserable six-match losing run with a sensational 3-0 victory over Iceland at Windsor Park last night. Although the nation's hopes of World Cup qualification had ended following a disappointing campaign, the resounding victory, and the very nature of it, offers hope for a bright future for Sammy McIlroy's men.
The Irish played their best football for several years as they outclassed an Iceland side which had easily beaten the Czech Republic only four days earlier, as the home side built on a deserved draw in Denmark at the weekend. David Healy bagged the first, Michael Hughes the second before George McCartney capped a composed debut by scoring the third.
Following a disappointing first half, the North stormed from the blocks after the interval and went 1-0 up when Petur Marteinsson could only head Mulryne's cross as far as Healy, who swivelled and fired home right-footed from the edge of the area in the 48th minute. They the doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Hughes fed Gillespie on the right and then ran into the box where he converted his cross in off the near post for his fifth international goal.
Northern Ireland completed the scoring two minutes later when Kevin Horlock worked a short corner with Gillespie and the former Manchester United ace crossed for debut boy George McCartney to head home a third.
Filed by Shane Murray
