Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill up for friendly send-off

Fresh from sharing the Philips Manager of the Year award yesterday with his namesake Martin, Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill is amenable to extending the friendship by arranging an All-Ireland friendly as a send-off for the European Championships.

Both Ireland and Northern Ireland will next June participate in their first-ever major tournament together in France but cannot be grouped during Saturday’s draw due to them being in Pot Four.

Each of the teams will have four friendlies as preparation and, with the first pair scheduled for March, there’s a window in May for the first official meeting since 2011 when Ireland won 5-0 in the doomed Carling Nations Cup.